Department for Transport

Railways: Tickets

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with train operators on the use of mobile phone train tickets; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: We are delivering smart ticketing across the rail network by the end of 2018. Mobile phone train tickets are an integral part of our overall programme and we hold many conversations with train operators about this technology.

Shipping

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the outcome was of the Government's review of the National Maritime Single Window pilot exercise.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department is continuing to review stakeholder feedback to the UK’s National Maritime Single Window (NMSW) pilot exercise in conjunction with our Government partners. Further upgrades to the system are being made to improve usability and access to data by the appropriate authorities as a result. Until testing on these upgrades is completed the NMSW will remain in its pilot phase.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the gender equalisation of car insurance premiums on the cost of car insurance.

Jesse Norman: Following a European Court of Justice ruling, the use of gender to calculate car insurance premiums ended in December 2012.HM Treasury is undertaking a statutory post-implementation review of the SI implementing this ban on the use of gender in insurance pricing. This will be published in due course.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the Government will not make available to MPs the 2017 Infrastructure Projects Authority report which assessed the cost of High Speed Two at £80 billion; and with what part of that report's methodology for assessing the costs of that project the Department disagrees.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This was not an official report by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. The document represented an individual’s personal views. We do not comment on leaks.

Air Space

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request that the outcome of the Civil Aviation Authority's consultation on changing Class E airspace procedures be shared with his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: Holding answer received on 29 October 2018



There has not been a specific consultation launched on changing Class E airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) but airspace users have asked about its use.The department has a close working relationship with the CAA and documents are routinely shared. This would include any outcome of the information request about Class E.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Energy: Meters

Mrs Kemi Badenoch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many SMETS1 meters are estimated to not be enrolled into the Smart Data Communications Company; and what the approximate cost of their replacements with SMETS2 meters would be.

Claire Perry: First generation smart meters currently operate on energy supplier-developed systems and will be migrated to the DCC by the end of 2020 to ensure that all first generation smart meters stay smart when switching.

Energy Companies Obligation: Fuel Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many Energy Company Obligation measures have been delivered to off-gas grid homes using (a) heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas broken down by (a) ECO1 (b) ECO2 and (c) ECO2t in each year for which information is available.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many Energy Company Obligation measures have been delivered to off-gas grid homes using (a) heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas in (a) England (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each year for which information is available.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many off-gas grid households using either (a) heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas have qualified for support under the rural sub-obligation of the Energy Company Obligation in each year for which information is available.

Claire Perry: The tables below show the number of measures delivered through the Energy Company Obligation to homes identified as off the gas grid who used heating oil or liquid petroleum gas prior to receiving the measure. ECO measures delivered to off-gas grid homes using oil / LPG heating: 2013 – June 2018  Oil  LPGECO 1ECO 2ECO 2tECO 1ECO 2ECO 2tTotal20131,888373-17250-2,48320147,5044,341-698429-12,97220152,0239,225-1851,102-12,5352016-13,180--1,349-14,5292017-7,22914,669-6841,68724,2692018 (Jan-Jun)--10,862--1,36812,230Total 11,415  34,348  25,531  1,055  3,614  3,055  79,018  Note – some ECO 2 measures were completed prior to April 2015 as the scheme included a carryover mechanism that allowed measures that were delivered in ECO1 to be transferred to the ECO 2 scheme. ECO measures delivered to off-gas grid homes using oil / LPG heating: 2013 – June 2018   Oil  LPGEnglandWalesScotlandEnglandWalesScotlandTotal20131,55251719277100452,48320148,8291,5311,48579622210912,97220158,4071,3541,48792421414912,53520167,8043,0012,37577932724314,529201713,4794,7863,6331,60250626324,2692018 (Jan-Jun)6,1343,1891,5391,01124910812,230Total 46,205  14,378  10,711  5,189  1,618  917  79,018  The table below shows the number of households receiving measures delivered through the Energy Company Obligation to homes identified as off the gas grid who used heating oil or liquid petroleum gas prior to receiving the measure. Households receiving ECO Rural Sub-Obligation measures delivered to off-gas grid homes using oil / LPG heating: 2013 – June 2018   Oil  LPGEnglandWalesScotlandEnglandWalesScotlandTotal201371144--2620144,31525658639418465,61520152,54314535728763373,4322016957522091185221,36320171,1006953015213671,9312018 (Jan-Jun)84619653713334471,793Total 9,768  719  2,233  1,088  133  219  14,160

Energy Companies Obligation: Fuel Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) heating oil boilers and (b) liquefied petroleum gas boilers have been replaced under the Energy Company Obligation under (a) ECO1 (b) ECO2 and (c) ECO2t in each year for which information is available.

Claire Perry: The table below shows the number of oil and LPG fired boilers replaced through the Energy Company Obligation.   ECO Oil and LPG fired boilers replaced: 2013 – June 2018  Oil  LPGECO 1ECO 2ECO 2tECO 1ECO 2ECO 2tTotal2013331--86--4172014210150-4075-47520155511-5129-6502016-3,648--449-4,0972017-4,24411,250-4312,03317,9582018 (Jan-Jun)--8,133--1,5889,721Total 546  8,553  19,383  131  1,084  3,621  33,318   Note – some ECO 2 measures were completed prior to April 2015 as the scheme included a carryover mechanism that allowed measures that were delivered in ECO1 to be transferred to the ECO 2 scheme.

Fuel Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Housing

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many off-gas grid households using (a) heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum have an Energy Efficiency Rating of (a) Band D (b) Band E and (c) Band F or lower.

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of off-gas grid households using (a) heating oil and (b) liquefied petroleum gas have an Energy Efficiency Rating of Band C or higher.

Claire Perry: Of the households off the gas grid using heating oil as the main fuel in Great Britain in 2014, 37,000 households are estimated to have an energy efficiency rating of A-C, 373,000 are at Band D, 448,000 are at Band E, 317,000 are at band F or lower.For the existing survey data, the sample sizes for households off the gas grid using LPG as the main fuel is too small for us to provide robust estimates on their EPC ratings. Source: Analysis of National Housing Model input data, drawing from English Housing Survey 2014, Scottish Housing Condition Survey 2014, Welsh Housing Conditions Survey 2014.

Living Wage: Business

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number of businesses paying the national living wage in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England; and if he'll make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Holding answer received on 25 October 2018



This Government is committed to building an economy that works for everyone, and the National Living Wage is part of our wider commitment to ensuring this, both in terms of fair pay and fair working conditions. We do not hold these particular statistics. Analysis from the Low Pay Commission (published in March 2018) shows that around 2.1 million workers are on the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates, in England, which equates to 8.9% of all workers. In Coventry around 11,400 workers are on the minimum wage (equivalent to around 8.1% of all workers), and across the West Midlands 266,000 workers are on the minimum wage (equivalent to 11.5% of all workers in the region).

Conditions of Employment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of cases where independent contractors are considered employees for tax purposes but do not have corresponding workplace rights.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to providing greater clarity for businesses and individuals on employment status. As Matthew Taylor identified in his review, this is a complex issue and is one of the major challenges for public policy. We are considering how best to achieve change that works for all. We received over 160 detailed responses to the Employment Status Consultation. We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to facilitate parliamentary scrutiny of potential deals on a new nuclear power station before contracts are signed.

Richard Harrington: On the 4 June 2018, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State confirmed to Parliament that the Government has entered negotiations with Hitachi in relation to Horizon’s proposed Wylfa Newydd project, based on Anglesey in North Wales. Negotiations are currently ongoing, and no decision has yet been taken to proceed. In his statement, the Secretary of State committed to continue to keep the House informed during the negotiations.

Post Offices: Opening Hours

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what (a) safeguards and (b) terms and conditions are in place to ensure that there is no reduction in operating hours when the Post Office transfers a branch to a franchisee.

Kelly Tolhurst: Holding answer received on 25 October 2018



Providing customers with convenient access to Post Office services is of vital importance. Over the last few years, as part of the Post Office’s programme to modernise their branch network, the Post Office have increased opening hours at almost 6,000 branches, offering in excess of 200,000 additional opening hours overall. Nearly 4,000 branches are now open on Sundays. When the Post Office franchises a branch to a new partner, they always ensure that the opening hours are at least equal to those in the existing branch. This agreement on hours is formalised in the Post Office’s contract with the partner. However, in the vast majority of cases, opening hours are extended on Saturday afternoons and often branches will open earlier on weekdays and on Sundays. The Post Office’s recent announcement to franchise branches to WHSmith (subject to public consultation) will see opening hours extended on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of export tariffs on solar energy usage since their introduction; and if he will reassess the proposals to end the export tariff for new solar installations from April 2019 as outlined in the consultation Feed-in tariffs scheme of July 2018.

Claire Perry: The impact of changes in the Feed-In Tariffs on deployment of different small-scale technologies have been considered in both the 2015 and 2018 scheme consultations. The impact assessments can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-review-of-the-feed-in-tariff-schemehttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/feed-in-tariffs-schemeNo assessment has been made of the export tariff independent of the generation tariff. We are considering responses to the recent consultation proposing to close the FIT scheme. The Government will set out its response in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Contracts

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the average hourly pay is of staff employed by companies subcontracted by his Department.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Conditions of Employment: Public Consultation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish its response to the consultation on Employment Status, published on 7 February 2018.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with representatives from the (a) courier and (b) parcel delivery sector on the proposals in its consultation on employment status; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) business groups and (b) trade unions his Department held meetings with on the consultation on Employment Status.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many responses his Department received to its consultation on Employment Status, published in February 2018.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government is committed to providing greater clarity for businesses and individuals on employment status. As Matthew Taylor identified in his review, this is a complex issue and is one of the major challenges for public policy.During the Employment Status Consultation period, we held regional and Ministerial roundtable events to engage in depth with over 70 stakeholder organisations, including representatives from the courier and parcel delivery sector, business groups and trade unions. We also received over 160 detailed written responses to the consultation. We are currently analysing the responses and will respond in due course.

Renewable Energy: EU Law

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the provisions of the EU Renewable Energy Directive II recast will be transposed into UK law in the event that the UK leaves the EU next March.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department's proposals to end the export tariff for self-generators will require member states to remunerate self-generators for renewable electricity fed into the grid which reflects a fair market value as part of the EU Renewable Energy Directive II.

Claire Perry: Leaving the EU will not affect the UK's commitment to domestic and international efforts to tackle climate change. Renewable technologies now form a very significant part of the UK’s energy mix and will continue to do so into the future. Renewable energy will have a key role to play in delivering our ambitious Clean Growth Strategy. The UK will consider transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive II recast as part of the wider EU Exit negotiations on our future energy partnership.

Small Businesses: Billing

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer  of 16 October 2018 to Question 178284 on Small Businesses: Billing, if he will publish the industry-led events organised by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management to promote the Prompt Payment Code.

Kelly Tolhurst: Events organised by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management are co-ordinated by the Institute itself.

Sizewell C Power Station

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to support the development of Sizewell C nuclear power station.

Richard Harrington: Government regularly engages with developers on a range of issues relevant to delivering new nuclear projects, including the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station. As my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy stated to Parliament on 4 June 2018, we will be reviewing the viability of a regulated asset base model as a sustainable funding model, based on private finance for future new nuclear projects beyond Wylfa, that could deliver the Government’s objectives of value for money, fiscal responsibility and decarbonisation.

Glass: Shortages

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to tackle the glass shortage in the construction industry.

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continued supply of glass for the construction industry after the UK leaves the EU.

Richard Harrington: There are currently three large scale furnaces manufacturing flat glass in the UK, capable of supplying the demand in the construction industry. The speed of supply to customers is influenced by the level of production, and there can be periods where this is reduced, for example due to maintenance work on one of the furnaces. However, the Government does not expect there to be any significant long-term problems in the level of supply. The Government continues to work with the construction industry and other sectors to ensure that they will have access to glass and materials after the UK leaves the EU, and with the glass manufacturing sector to support its competitiveness.

Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will launch a public inquiry to investigate concerns expressed by mineworkers on the then government's influence and role in determining the surplus sharing arrangement for the Mineworkers Pension Scheme.

Claire Perry: The Mineworkers Pension Scheme has worked well for all parties and credit must go to the Trustees for their excellent investment strategy and administration of the Scheme. As the Trustees have acknowledged, the Government guarantee has enabled an investment strategy that has resulted in scheme members receiving payments 33% higher than they would have been had they received only their actual earned pension up to privatisation. I do not therefore agree that a public enquiry is needed.

Manufacturing Industries: Imports

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the average length of time it takes components for just-in time manufacturing to reach the UK from (a) Eastern Europe and (b) China; and what proportion of that time is taken at the port of entry.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Manufacturing Industries: Road Traffic

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of just-in time manufacturing on traffic (a) congestion and (b) accidents on roads between ports and factories.

Richard Harrington: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Artificial Intelligence

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the use of artificial intelligence on levels of employment; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: Artificial Intelligence is one of the global trends which will transform our future, changing jobs and businesses across the country, and we want people to be able to capitalise on these opportunities. Addressing this, Artificial Intelligence and data is one of the first 4 Grand Challenges set out in our Industrial Strategy to put the UK at the forefront of the industries of the future, ensuring that we take advantage of major global changes, improving people’s lives and the country’s productivity. Embedding AI across the UK will create thousands of good quality jobs and drive economic growth in all four nations. As part of the AI Sector Deal, announced in April, we've made a range of commitments to support the development of the skills required to generate good jobs and greater earning power for all.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Jamal Khashoggi

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure the Saudi Arabian Government and the Turkish Government conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to press Turkey and Saudi Arabia to carry out thorough investigations until responsibilities are clearly established and there is proper accountability and due process for any crimes committed. The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Saudi Foreign Minister on 20 October and I, and, our Ambassador to Riyadh, have subsequently reiterated this to the Foreign Minister.  On 24 October, the Prime Minister spoke to King Salman to reiterate the UK’s grave concerns about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and strongly urged Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the Turkish investigation and to be transparent about the results.

Diplomatic Service: Official Hospitality

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was spent on hospitality by the British Ambassador to (a) Paris (b) Nairobi and (c) Riyadh in the financial year 2017-2018.

Sir Alan Duncan: In financial year 2017-2018 the FCO posts of Paris, Nairobi and Riyadh spent the following on hospitality:Paris: £270,883.83Nairobi: £154,408.84Riyadh: £128,550.61

Antarctic: Marine Protected Areas

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to secure the adoption of a marine sanctuary in the Weddell Sea.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to promote marine protection in the Antarctic.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made on the establishment of a marine protected area in the Weddell Sea.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his international counterparts to secure international support for Antarctic marine protection.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is supportive of proposals for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Weddell Sea and East Antarctica, both of which are being presented at the meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) currently taking place and due to conclude on the 2 November 2018. UK scientists and experts have been closely involved in the development of the Weddell Sea proposals. Foreign Office officials have also been lobbying other members of CCAMLR in favour of the proposals.

Corruption and Human Rights

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the obstacles to the publication by the Government of a Magnitsky-style list.

Mark Field: Although not yet commenced, The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 includes the powers to sanction individuals for a range of purposes, which are set out in Section 1 of the Act. Before HMG can fully operationalise the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act (2018), the Government must ensure it has the necessary procedures and frameworks in place. This work is underway. Once we have left the EU and it has come into force the government will publish the names of all those sanctioned under the Act on the appropriate government website (gov.uk).

Sudan: Radicalism

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the level of the presence of Islamist extremist cells and jihadist training camps in Sudan and (b) the accuracy of reports of an Al Qaeda Club operating openly at the University of Khartoum.

Harriett Baldwin: We are aware of historical reports related to the presence of extremist groups in Sudan, including the presence of Al-Qaida. The Government of Sudan has in recent years taken steps to address the presence of such groups, and to meet the bilateral requirements set by the US Government for Sudan to be removed from the US State Sponsor of Terrorism List. We continue to encourage the Government of Sudan to address drivers of radicalisation and ensure that all forms of extremism are tackled in compliance with human rights standards. Through bilateral engagement including our biannual Strategic Dialogue we continue to raise issues of concern and discuss areas where we could work together on a range of issues, including counter terrorism and countering violent extremism.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the peace deal in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK welcomes the signing of a revitalised peace agreement for South Sudan on 12 September. This marks a significant achievement by the region, which played a key role in bringing the parties to the conflict together. However, to be convinced of the parties' commitment and of the deal's chance of success, we have been clear that we need to see a significant shift in behaviour by all sides. This includes an immediate and verifiable end to fighting, the release of political prisoners and unimpeded humanitarian access. So far, although we have seen an overall reduction in levels of violence, we remain deeply concerned by a continuing pattern of ceasefire violations and by the blocking of desperately needed humanitarian assistance.Through our bilateral engagement, and as a member of the Troika, we have been clear that for meaningful progress to be made, those working against peace must face consequences. We continue to call on the region to work in step with the international community to hold spoilers to account, including through implementation of UN sanctions. We will continue to urge all parties to meet their commitments and ensure effective and accountable implementation of the agreement.

Ahmed Mansoor

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates on the imprisonment of the human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.

Alistair Burt: My officials raised the case of Ahmed Mansoor with their Emirati counterparts at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 April. Similarly, in coordination with my officials and other EU member states, the EU Delegation to the UAE raised this case with Emirati officials on 5 July. ​

Ukraine: Aviation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 176289, if he will ensure that the family of victims of flight MH17 are kept informed of the progress of the investigation.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is committed to supporting the families of the ten British Nationals who lost their lives in the MH17 crash. UK police (Family Liaison Officers) continue to update the bereaved families of the MH17 disaster in response to information from the Joint Investigation Team in The Netherlands.Thanks to the thorough and painstaking work of the Joint Investigation Team over the past four years, we know that the aircraft was brought down by a Russian Buk-type missile belonging to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Military Brigade of the Russian army which was launched from an area held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Government must now account for its actions. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of the GRU’s activity on the achievement of justice for the victims of flight MH17. All organisations involved in the criminal investigation and process to establish international responsibility for MH17 have an acute awareness of the threat from Russia to the integrity of the process.

Ukraine: Aviation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 176289, if he will assess the effect of Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) activity on the achievement of justice for the victims of Flight MH17.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is committed to supporting the families of the ten British Nationals who lost their lives in the MH17 crash. UK police (Family Liaison Officers) continue to update the bereaved families of the MH17 disaster in response to information from the Joint Investigation Team in The Netherlands.Thanks to the thorough and painstaking work of the Joint Investigation Team over the past four years, we know that the aircraft was brought down by a Russian Buk-type missile belonging to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Military Brigade of the Russian army which was launched from an area held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Russian Government must now account for its actions. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of the GRU’s activity on the achievement of justice for the victims of flight MH17. All organisations involved in the criminal investigation and process to establish international responsibility for MH17 have an acute awareness of the threat from Russia to the integrity of the process.​

Attorney General

Veterans: Prosecutions

Leo Docherty: To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the protection of British military veterans from prosecution; and if he will he make a statement.

Robert Buckland: By longstanding constitutional convention, the content of advice given by the Attorney General or by any Law Officers, or the fact that such advice has been given, is not disclosed outside of Government.

Attorney General: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Attorney General, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by his Department in receipt of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Buckland: Neither the Attorney General’s Office nor the Law Officers Departments collate information on staff in receipt of universal credit.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Capital Investment

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information he holds on the number of  local and primary care building projects under the NHS LIFT programme that have been put on hold in the last year because of concerns about the economic outlook for the UK.

Stephen Barclay: The Department is not aware of any primary care building projects under the National Health Service Local Improvement Finance Trust programme that have been put on hold in the last year because of concerns about the economic outlook for the United Kingdom.

NHS Digital

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many redundancies are planned as a result of the restructure of NHS Digital; and where those staff affected by the Org2 redesign are located.

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NHS Digital staff and their representatives regarding the proposed organisational redesign; and how many staff will be required to reapply for their jobs as a result of the Org2 redesign.

Matt Hancock: Due to the need to reduce the size of the organisation and change the skills and capability of its workforce, NHS Digital’s restructuring is planned to be delivered in a series of ‘waves’ and is due to be completed by 2020/21. Wave one is currently in progress. At this stage, NHS Digital estimates that a net overall reduction in headcount of circa 500 full time equivalents is expected. A programme of staff engagement and discussions with staff representatives is in place. All staff will be affected by the restructuring and will be required to apply for posts in the new organisation structure. Staff are currently located in NHS Digital’s offices in London, Leeds, Southport, Exeter, Southampton, Washington and Redditch. NHS Digital is working to ensure that it provides every facility to help staff secure suitable alternate employment. A professional outplacement service has been secured to work with displaced staff and NHS Digital is seeking opportunities with other public and private sector employers in the areas affected.

NHS Digital

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what training has been offered to existing NHS Digital staff on cyber security, data science and machine learning.

Matt Hancock: Through its training programme, NHS Digital staff are able to request access to training in cyber security, data science and machine learning as appropriate. In addition, there are mandatory requirements for all staff to complete data security training which includes basic cyber security awareness. Staff have access to more than 6,000 online courses, which are primarily technical in nature, to supplement provision via Civil Service Learning and other providers of classroom-based teaching.

NHS Digital

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the budget is for NHS Digital for each year until 2021-22.

Matt Hancock: NHS Digital’s budget for the next three years is shown in the following table:  2018/19 £ million2019/20 £ million2020/21 £ millionRevenue354349284Capital1079256 These budgets have been approved by the Digital Delivery Board as part of the digital transformation portfolio of national programmes and live services that support our vision for using the best digital technology to support the health and social care system. Figures may change in-year or for future years to reflect delivery priorities across the portfolio, subject to agreement by the Digital Delivery Board. Funding for 2021/22 will be confirmed through the NHS Long Term Plan and the next Spending Review. The figures in the table do not include those programmes in the wider digital transformation portfolio that are not funded from NHS Digital’s budget. These include the £412 million for sustainability and transformation partnerships to improve provider digitisation and the £200 million announced for the next round of global digital exemplars. These will help create the flexibility for local organisations to buy the technology and commodity services they need that meet open national standards of interoperability, privacy and security in line with our vision for digital, data and technology in health and care.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of prescription charges on health outcomes.

Steve Brine: No such assessment has been undertaken.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of prescriptions that were paid for by a prepayment certificate in the last 12 months.

Steve Brine: This information is not available for the time period requested.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the contribution to the public purse of prescription prepayment certificates.

Steve Brine: Information provided by the NHS Business Services Authority on the number of Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC) purchased in each of the last five calendar years is provided in the following table: YearNumber of PPCs issued20131,531,01620141,651,97720151,798,03720161,916,22020171,952,425 At present a 3-month PPC costs £29.10 and a 12-month PPC costs £104 to purchase.

School Milk

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect on the (a) health of under five year olds and (b) rate of childhood obesity of a reduction in the Nursery Milk Scheme.

Matt Hancock: The Government has no plans to make any changes to the eligibility for the Nursery Milk Scheme.

Prescriptions: Costs

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the average costs to the public purse of dispensing a prescription item from an internet pharmacy are lower than such costs of dispensing a prescription item from a High Street pharmacy.

Steve Brine: Under the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework, payment for National Health Service pharmaceutical services does not distinguish between providers; i.e. online pharmacies and ‘bricks and mortar’ pharmacies are paid the same level of fees for services. There are fees which are paid to pharmacy contractors per dispensed item, but there is also a payment which depends on the total monthly volume of prescription items.

Prescriptions: Costs

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the costs to the public purse are of dispensing a prescription item in (a) a pharmacy which dispensed an average number of prescription items in the latest period for which figures are available, (b) a pharmacy which dispensed the highest number of prescription items in the latest period for which figures are available and (c) a pharmacy which dispensed the lowest number of prescription items in the latest period for which figures are available; if he will list average costs to the public purse of dispensing a prescription item in (i) a pharmacy which is in the top quartile of all pharmacies for the number of prescription items it dispenses and (ii) a pharmacy which is in the bottom quartile of all pharmacies for the number of prescription items it dispenses; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average costs to the public purse are of dispensing a prescription item from an internet pharmacy.

Steve Brine: The following table shows the average fee relating to essential services per prescription item for pharmacies with different levels of dispensing activity for the period 2017/18. Number of Prescription Items Dispensed 2017/18Total Fees relating to Essential Services* 2017/18Average fee per prescription item 2017/18Minimum1£1.29£1.29Lowest Quartile54,470£97,520£1.79Median79,138£130,826£1.65Top Quartile111,404£170,158£1.53Maximum2,925,671£3,869,711£1.32Mean87,996£140,235£1.59Distance selling pharmacies** (mean)61,117£102,621£1.68 Notes: *We have calculated total fees as the sum of all essential service fees, including establishment payments and quality payments. It excludes any advanced service fees as these are payments for activity not related to dispensing. Any funding received via retained medicine margin, and any payments relating to the Pharmacy Access Scheme have similarly been excluded from this analysis and so would need to be separately considered. ** Includes internet pharmacies

Department of Health and Social Care: Public Expenditure

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement entitled £240 million social care investment to ease NHS winter pressures, published by his Department on 2 October 2018, what the source of that additional funding is.

Caroline Dinenage: The £240 million adult social care winter fund is additional funding from the Exchequer

Vaccination

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Cost effectiveness methodology for vaccination programmes, which closed on 26 February 2018, when his Department plans to publish a response to that consultation.

Steve Brine: The consultation on the Cost Effectiveness Methodology for Immunisation Programmes and Procurement report started on 26 February 2018 and closed on 28 June 2018. We aim to publish our response in due course.

Drugs: Cost Effectiveness

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on how many occasions the budget impact test has been triggered in the course of a NICE technology appraisal.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has advised that 27 topics have triggered the £20 million budget impact test at the point at which the company made an evidence submission.

Drugs: Cost Effectiveness

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to request that NICE routinely reports on the applicability of the budget impact test in its technology appraisal guidance.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is operationally independent and the Government has no plans to ask NICE to routinely report on the applicability of the budget impact test in its technology appraisal guidance. Departmental officials routinely meet with NICE colleagues to discuss a range of matters including, as necessary, the budget impact test.

Drugs: Cost Effectiveness

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what budget NHS England has allocated for discretionary investment in new drugs and treatments not considered by NICE in 2018-19.

Steve Brine: A process of relative prioritisation for determining discretionary investment in new specialised services was first introduced in 2016/17. Investment decisions are informed following advice from NHS England’s independently chaired Clinical Priorities Advisory Group and against a budget that is fixed annually. In 2018/19, £25 million was set aside for this purpose.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome over the past five financial years.

Caroline Dinenage: The following table shows information provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on Departmental programme research funding for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), over each of the last five years. Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/ Financial Year£2013-14561,9502014-15426,0552015-16475,6762016-17554,7852017-18464,902 The NIHR recognises that CFS/ME is a debilitating condition and is speaking with the United Kingdom CFS/ME Research Collaborative and patient representatives about how best to support a joined up approach to high quality research into this complex disorder. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including CFS/ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what pharmacological treatments are available to people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department provides to people in the UK who have myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome in England.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends treatments which have the clearest clinical evidence of benefit. There is no known pharmacological treatment or cure for myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue (CFS/ME); however, the guidance is clear that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient. People with CFS/ME should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment should be provided in line with their preferences. The NICE guidance also provides clinical guidance on best practice which is used to support the local National Health Service shape services to support people with CFS/MS. The commissioning of services for people with CFS/ME is a local matter. Overall evidence suggests that CFS/ME has a population prevalence of at least 0.2-0.4%. This would mean that a general practice with 10,000 patients is likely to include up to 40 people with CFS/ME. Estimates are based on extrapolations from other countries. Further information on CFS/ME can be found via the following websites: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53 www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/ www.meassociation.org.uk/about/what-is-mecfs/

Hearing Aids

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2017 to Question 117036 on Hearing Aids, if he will publish the information for each Care Commissioning Group.

Caroline Dinenage: Information is not collected centrally on the number of people supplied with a hearing aid by each clinical commissioning group.

Doctors: Training

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of allocating funding for additional domestic medical student places to meet NHS demand.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has announced a record increase of an additional 1,500 medical school places for domestic students in England – 630 started this September, with a further 690 starting in 2019/20 and the final 180 in 2020/21. This expansion will also deliver five brand new medical schools in Sunderland, Lancashire, Chelmsford, Lincoln and Canterbury. On the back of the additional £20 billion additional National Health Service funding, NHS leaders are currently producing a long-term plan that will include proposals for the NHS workforce, training and leadership, which the Government will consider and respond to in due course.

Eating Disorders

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment options for people suffering with eating disorders and subsequent mental health conditions but who are denied treatment due to weighing more than the required benchmark for diagnosis.

Matt Hancock: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guidance on managing and treating eating disorders, and the Eating Disorder Commissioning Guide, are both clear that people should not be rejected for treatment solely on the grounds of weight or Body Mass Index (BMI). The NICE clinical guideline for the recognition and treatment of an eating disorder (2017) states “Do not use single measures such as BMI or duration of illness to determine whether to offer treatment for an eating disorder (ref 1.2.8)”. We expect commissioners and providers to adhere to this guidance. The Eating Disorder Commissioning Guide recognises that “There are reported problems associated with health professionals delaying the provision of appropriate treatment due to their treatment decisions being based primarily on the young person’s weight and BMI. These decisions can lead to a delay in access to appropriate treatment” and re-states that commissioners should adhere to NICE guidelines. Source: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69/chapter/Recommendations#identification-and-assessment https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cyp-eating-disorders-access-waiting-time-standard-comm-guid.pdf

NHS: Private Sector

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether private providers of NHS services are using patient data gathered through the provision of NHS service to target patients with advertisements for additional private healthcare and services.

Matt Hancock: We are not aware of such practice.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Answer of 23 April 2018 to Question 136107 on Prescription Drugs: Misuse, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the increase in deaths caused by the consumption of an excess of prescription drugs being the primary cause.

Steve Brine: The Government is concerned by the increase in deaths related to the misuse of prescription opioids. The Department has commissioned a review of prescription drug dependence from Public Health England to help understand the scope of the problem. The review will provide a strong evidence base for future policy development in this area.

Buprenorphine

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to Question 176027 on Buprenorphine, if he will take steps to ensure that the price of buprenorphine returns to more affordable levels.

Steve Brine: The increased purchase price of buprenorphine is reflected in the reimbursement price paid to pharmacies, to ensure that supplies remain available to patients. The market for buprenorphine has generally been competitive and we expect the supply situation to improve over the coming weeks which is likely to result in an increasingly competitive market. The Department continues to monitor this very closely.

Diabetes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase access to the NHS Diabetes Prevention programme in (a) East Ham and (b) the UK.

Steve Brine: The NHS Five Year Forward View set out NHS England’s commitment to support up to 100,000 people per annum on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) by 2020. NHS England anticipates reaching this level of delivery in 2019/20, and programme capacity will be made available across England according to local population need and service demand. NHS England has now secured funding to continue providing the NHS DPP up to 2021/22.

Learning Disability: Nurses

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of nursing student bursaries on the number of people entering a career in learning disabilities nursing.

Stephen Barclay: The Department is working with relevant bodies across health and education to monitor the effects of the healthcare funding reforms, including the impact on application numbers on all the professions affected. We have been working with Health Education England (HEE) and the university sector to ensure students continued to apply for courses up to the end of clearing in October 2018. We are also working with HEE on a campaign to improve perceptions of nursing, the allied health professions and midwifery and encourage applications to relevant undergraduate courses for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service applications in 2019. We have also opened new work based learning routes into the nursing profession for those who may not be able to study full-time. Students who commence loan funded postgraduate pre-registration nursing courses in the 2018/19 academic year will be eligible for a golden hello payment once they have graduated and go on to work in learning disability, mental health or district nursing. Payments will be made to these graduates once they take up employment in the health and care sector in England. Working with the National Health Service and the university sector, the Government is finalising the most effective way to administer and introduce the scheme and will set out details in due course.

Influenza: Vaccination

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of supplies of the aTIV flu vaccine for people over 65 years of age.

Steve Brine: To enable adequate supply of the adjuvanted trivalent flu vaccine to be available in 2018-19, deliveries have had to be phased. All general practices and pharmacies in the United Kingdom will have the delivery of their orders phased across three months; 40% in September, 20% in October and 40% in November. This is a specific arrangement for 2018-19 to allow effective supply of the vaccine.

Health Professions: Training

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the diversity of students taking (a) pre-registration physiotherapy and (b) nursing, midwifery and other allied health courses since the NHS bursary reforms in 2017.

Stephen Barclay: The Department is working with relevant bodies across health and education to monitor the effects of the healthcare funding reforms on all the professions affected. A preliminary Equality Analysis was published alongside the public consultation document on 7 April 2016. This document provided the assessment of the potential effect of the replacement of National Health Service bursaries by student loans for all the protected characteristics of the Public Sector Equality Duty (Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). The Equality Analysis and the Government consultation can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-how-healthcare-education-is-funded A revised version of the original Equality Analysis, was published in February 2018 to accompany the reforms to pre-registration postgraduate healthcare funding. The revised Equality Analysis can be found at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/680681/Equality_Analysis_healthcare_education_funding.pdf

Rehabilitation

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that those Clinical Commissioning Groups which are not commissioning adequate multi-disciplinary community rehabilitation services change their practices.

Steve Brine: There is significant work surrounding community rehabilitation, with leadership from a stroke programme board in March 2018, co-chaired by the NHS England National Medical Director, Professor Steve Powis and Juliet Bouverie, CEO of the Stroke Association. The Board is overseeing the development of a stroke plan, which will include a strong focus on rehabilitation.A review of community performance reporting is also underway to help the National Health Service to understand variations in clinical rehabilitation across services and patient groups. This will support clinical commissioning groups to target improvement initiatives in rehabilitation services.

Department of Health and Social Care: Health Professions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Senior Civil Servant staff within his Department are registered with the (a) Nursing and Midwifery Council,  (b) Health and Care Professions Council, (c) General Medical Council and (d) other health care professional regulatory bodies.

Caroline Dinenage: This information is not held centrally in the Department.

NHS: Managers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many members of (a) NHS England’s senior management team and (b) NHS Improvement’s executive team are (i) Nursing and Midwifery Council registrants, (ii) Health and Care Professions Council registrants, (iii) General Medical Council registrants and (iv) registrants of other health care professional regulatory bodies.

Stephen Barclay: The information requested is as shown in the following table: NHS England senior management team (defined as employees who report directly to the Chief Executive)NHS Improvement executive team (defined as employees who report directly to the Chief Executive)Nursing and Midwifery Council registrant1Nursing and Midwifery Council registrant1General Medical Council registrant1General Medical Council registrant1Health and Care Professionals Council registrant0Health and Care Professionals Council registrant0Registrants of other health care professional regulatory bodies0Registrants of other health care professional regulatory bodies0

NHS: Directors

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many board members and directors of NHS trusts in England are (a) Nursing and Midwifery Council registrants, (b) Health and Care Professions Council registrants, (c) General Medical Council registrants and (d) registrants of other health care professional regulatory bodies.

Stephen Barclay: The Department does not hold the information as requested.

Dental Health: Children

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a similar initiative to Child Smile (Scotland) and Designed to Smile (Wales) in order to improve the oral health of children in England.

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS England’s Starting Well: A Smile4Life Initiative on improving the oral health of children in the 13 high priority areas taking part in that pilot scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is planning to make permanent the Starting Well: A Smile4Life Initiative in the 13 high priority areas that have been taking part in that pilot scheme.

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to roll out the Starting Well: A Smile4Life Initiative across England.

Steve Brine: The Government is committed to improving oral health with a particular focus on deprived children. Dental disease is preventable and this is why we are reforming the current dental system to enable dentists to focus more effectively on helping patients prevent future disease as well as treating active disease. And oral health at national level is good. Almost 75% of children now have no decay at five years old.But we know that deprived groups are significantly over represented in the around 25% of five year olds with decay. Alongside transforming care for those who already attend a dentist regularly we have set up 'Starting Well' a programme that focuses on children who do not already attend a dentist regularly. The Starting Well programme is being led by NHS England and is designed to reach out to families in 13 high need areas with professional advice and support - encouraging regular visits to the dentist and highlighting the importance of prevention for good oral health. The 13 areas are Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bolton; Ealing; Kingston Upon Hull; Leicester; Middlesbrough; Oldham; Rochdale; Salford; Slough; Wakefield; and Luton.Alongside this national initiative, NHS England is developing a complementary approach (Starting Well Core) which offers commissioners outside the 13 areas, a commissioning approach similarly designed to facilitate increased access and early preventive care for young children. Decisions on use are for commissioners to make based on their assessment of need locally.108 dental practices are now participating in the national programme. The programme launched in April 2018 and will have interim evaluation in autumn 2018 and full evaluation by early 2020.The Government continues to carefully consider all approaches to improving oral health particularly for the children most at risk.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the NHS and its agencies spent on specialised commissioning for children and young people’s mental health services in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.

Matt Hancock: The amount that the National Health Service spent on specialised commissioning for children and young people’s mental health in 2016-17 and 2017-18 is shown in the following table. Where this data is incomplete specialised commissioning hubs will apportion / estimate any missing values. YearExpenditure £ million2016/17341.52017/18355.2

NHS England

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England plans to publish its 10-year plan.

Stephen Barclay: The Government has asked the National Health Service to draw up an ambitious 10-year strategic plan. The NHS long-term plan is due to be published later this year.

Cancer: Diagnosis

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new rapid diagnostic and assessment centres are available to NHS patients in England; and how many have been (a) opened and (b) planned since the publication of NHS England's Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View.

Steve Brine: As was committed to in the Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View, NHS England introduced 10 new multi-disciplinary Rapid Diagnostic and Assessment Centres across England by March 2018. The centres are continuing to test an innovative approach to diagnosing cancer earlier and faster, when the patient presents with vague or non-specific symptoms. A further 10 sites across the country are also testing service models to diagnose patients with serious but non-specific symptoms, led by Cancer Alliances and funded through the £200 million investment in cancer transformation.In October 2018, the Prime Minister announced the roll-out of Rapid Diagnostic Centres across the country, which will build on the work done to date.

Cancer

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report, Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View, published by NHS England in March 2017, what progress he has made on the objective for an extra 5,000 people to survive their cancer over the following two years.

Steve Brine: As survival rates are calculated through patient follow-up at least a year after their diagnosis, cancer survival data is not yet available for patients diagnosed in 2016 and 2017. The Office for National Statistics and Public Health England will publish the 2016 survival data later this year.

Mental Health Services

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report, Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View, published by NHS England in March 2017, what progress his Department has made on the  objective for  60,000 more people to access psychological, or talking therapies, for common mental health conditions during 2017-18.

Matt Hancock: This information is not currently available.

NHS: Tax Avoidance

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of staffing in the NHS of the IR35 tax changes.

Stephen Barclay: No sector wide assessment has been made of the effects on the National Health Service of the IR35 tax changes.

Drugs: UK Trade with EU

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any EU suppliers of pharmaceuticals have notified his Department that they intend to break contracts and refuse to supply drugs after the UK leaves the EU.

Stephen Barclay: No supplier of pharmaceuticals to the United Kingdom has notified the Department that it intends to break contracts and refuse to supply medicines to the UK after we leave the European Union.

Drugs: UK Trade with EU

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether all EU imported medicines approved by the NHS will remain approved on 30 March 2019 in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Stephen Barclay: All medicines marketed in the United Kingdom are the subject of a marketing authorisation (MA) issued by either the European Commission (EC) or by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In the event that the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, national MAs issued by the MHRA will remain valid regardless of the source of the product. MAs issued by the EC will cease to be valid but the UK is proposing that these authorisations will be converted into UK MAs in a so-called ‘grandfathering’ process that is currently part of a public consultation due to close on 1 November 2018. This would be an administrative process without reassessment of data as the MHRA has already been involved in the authorisation procedure. Information on this procedure and the public consultation is available at the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/mhra/mhra-no-deal-contingency-legislation-for-the-regul/consultation/subpage.2018-09-19.0744149330/consultation/intro/user_uploads/consultation-annex--3.pdf

Diabetes: East Ham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many East Ham residents have accessed the NHS diabetes prevention programme in each year since it was established.

Steve Brine: The information requested is not centrally held.

Diabetes: Podiatry

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to maintain investment in multi-disciplinary foot care teams as part of the diabetes programme in the NHS ten year plan.

Steve Brine: Reducing amputations by improving access to Multi-Disciplinary Footcare Teams (MDFT) for people with diabetic foot disease is one of four areas that NHS England’s diabetes management and care programme is focusing on. £9.6 million has been invested to reduce amputations in people with diabetes through new/expanded MDFTs in approximately 80 hospital sites, funding approximately 185 whole time equivalent additional staff.

Orthopaedics: Newham

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) major and (b) minor amputations have been carried out on residents of the London borough of Newham since 2014; and how those numbers compare with the national average.

Stephen Barclay: The information is not available in the format requested.

Hospices: Children

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will increase the annual level of ringfenced funding that children’s hospices receive from NHS England to £25 million to reflect the changing number of seriously ill children whom they are caring for.

Caroline Dinenage: The Children’s Hospice Grant is awarded annually and administered by NHS England. It is a contribution towards the operating costs of the hospices, not core funding for NHS services, for which the statutory responsibility resides with local commissioners. In 2018/19 £11 million has been provided to children’s hospices through the Grant.

Organs: China

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban (a) organ trafficking and (b) transplant tourism to China.

Matt Hancock: The Human Tissue Act 2004 prohibits commercial dealings in human material for transplantation and makes it an offence to traffic organs. Clinical advice to United Kingdom patients is not to travel to less well-regulated countries to seek an organ transplant. It is thought that very few patients in the UK choose to do so but data on those who do is not available. The Government has welcomed China's move to stop using organs harvested from executed prisoners from January 2015. The Government continues to monitor the degree of implementation of this commitment, and encourages China to make further progress in bringing transparency to their organ transplant process.

Ovarian Cancer

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) improve public awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms, (b) increase early diagnosis rates and (c) increase access to treatment in specialist centres in (i) Oxfordshire and (ii) England.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has run a number of “Be Clear on Cancer” (BCOC) campaigns to help improve earlier diagnosis. In 2014, BCOC conducted a regional ovarian cancer campaign and in 2017, a pilot which focussed on a range of abdominal symptoms, such as diarrhoea, bloating and discomfort that can be indicative of a number of cancers, including ovarian cancer. Decisions on which cancers the BCOC campaigns should focus on are informed by a steering group and the outcomes of the regional and pilot campaigns will be considered for 2019/20. Nationally, NHS England is testing innovative ways of diagnosing cancer earlier, with sites piloting multi-disciplinary diagnostic centres for patients with vague or non-specific symptoms. The pilots are taking place in London, Greater Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Oxfordshire and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven (Yorkshire). The Prime Minister’s October 2018 announcement pledged to roll out these rapid diagnostic centres across the country to offer patients a range of tests in the same day with rapid access to results. The centres will help make a huge improvement in early diagnosis.

Suicide: Bereavement Counselling

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every family bereaved by suicide is proactively offered bereavement support within seven days.

Matt Hancock: The Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy (2012), updated in 2017, has two main aims: to reduce suicides and to improve the support and information provided to people bereaved by suicide. Suicide bereavement support should be provided locally by health and social care services working together along with the third sector. We are investing £25 million over the next three years in support of the strategy. In 2018/19, £5 million has been provided and £10 million will be provided in each year in 2019/20 and 2020/21. This funding is being provided to sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP) areas to support them to develop their suicide prevention plans and a national quality improvement programme across the National Health Service to improve patient safety and reduce suicides. This first eight STP areas received funding this year. The second year of this funding will be used to support some STPs to develop specific areas of their local suicide prevention plans, including suicide bereavement services. The Department funds the provision of the ‘Help is at Hand advice and information tool’ which is distributed to local services and can be provided to families bereaved by suicide as soon as is possible and appropriate following a suspected death by suicide. In July this year, the NHS National Quality Board published ‘Guidance for NHS trusts on working with bereaved families and carers.’ This aims to improve the way the NHS supports, engages and communicates with people who are bereaved, including through suicide, especially when a death is subject to an investigation. It advises that trusts should provide information to bereaved families on support and care that is available to them inside and outside the trust. Every local authority in England, now has a suicide prevention plan in place, or in development, to reduce suicides in their community. Public Health England published planning guidance to local authorities in 2016 which recommended priorities for local suicide prevention plans including the provision of suicide bereavement support. We are working with the local government sector to ensure their plans are effective, looking at what works and identifying areas for improvement to feed into a wider national programme of support for local authorities.

Drugs: UK Trade with EU

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to publish its technical notices on the delivery of medicines into the UK from the EU in that no withdrawal agreement is reached with the EU.

Stephen Barclay: The Department has no plans to publish technical notices on the delivery of medicines into the United Kingdom from the European Union in the event that no withdrawal agreement is reached with the EU.

Drugs: Marketing

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) distribution of medicines approved as centrally authorised products which do not have a UK marketing authorisation.

Stephen Barclay: All medicines that have been approved through the European centralised procedure have a Marketing Authorisation (MA) issued by the European Commission. To date there are 1,202 products approved through that procedure. The authorisation covers all Member States and they do not need a separate United Kingdom MA. If the UK leaves the European Union, the UK is proposing that these authorisations will be converted into UK MAs in a so-called ‘grandfathering’ process that is currently the subject of a public consultation due to close on 1 November 2018. This would be an administrative process without reassessment of data as the MHRA has already been involved in the authorisation procedure. Information on this procedure and the public consultation is available at the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/mhra/mhra-no-deal-contingency-legislation-for-the-regul/consultation/subpage.2018-09-19.0744149330/consultation/intro/user_uploads/consultation-annex--3.pdf

Health Services: Prisons

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention to the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 10 July 2018, what visits she has made to prison health services;  and (a) when and (b) where those visits took place.

Jackie Doyle-Price: I visited HMP Chelmsford earlier this year. I also met with providers responsible for delivering healthcare services at HMP Liverpool earlier this year. Further visits have been scheduled for later this year.

Eating Disorders

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of training hours that medicine students undertake on eating disorders.

Stephen Barclay: Diagnosing and treating eating disorders is an important area of medical practice. It is included within the curriculum for training all doctors, including for general practitioners (where most eating disorders initially present) and in more depth within training for psychiatry, particularly child and adolescent psychiatrists. Each individual medical school sets its own undergraduate medical curriculum. These have to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC), who then are responsible for approving curriculum against those standards. The curricula for postgraduate specialty training is set by individual royal colleges to standards set by the GMC. The curricula for specialty training is currently being reviewed by the GMC and Health Education England (HEE) and their counterparts in the devolved administrations, which is expected to be completed by 2020/21. HEE is actively influencing the review to meet the requirements of the National Health Service

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) steps his Department is taking and (b) funding is allocated to implement each proposal in the Children and Young People's Mental Health Task Force report, Future in Mind; and what progress has been made on implementing those proposals to date.

Matt Hancock: Future in Mind, published in 2015, brought stakeholders together behind a vision to improve children and young people’s mental health at a time when these services were much in need of attention and focus. The vision included significant ambitions around increasing access to children and young people’s mental health services. Following publication, the Government committed £1.4 billion for improvements to children and young people’s mental health services over the following five years. Action is now underway to make a range of improvements to children and young people’s mental health services including increasing numbers accessing specialist services, new waiting time standards, setting up new support teams in or near schools, training staff to work in these, training teachers and piloting a waiting time for access to specialist services. The Government committed providing access to specialist mental health services for an additional 70,000 children and young people a year by 2020/21.This is being delivered through implementation of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. This programme is at the half way point and available data suggests the Government is on track to deliver against this target. The Five Year Forward View also introduced two waiting time standards for children and young people. The first aims for 95% of children and young people (up to 19 years old) with eating disorders to receive treatment within a week for urgent cases and four weeks for routine cases by 2020/21. The second is that 50% of patients of all ages experiencing a first episode of psychosis should receive treatment within two weeks of referral by 2020/21. We are currently on track and meeting these waiting time standards respectively. In relation to the development of a ‘whole system approach’, the Government is going further than the vision set out in Future in Mind. Our Green Paper, published jointly with the Department for Education, sets out our plans for increased support for children and young people in schools. As part of implementing this, we are setting up new Mental Health Support Teams to deliver mental health interventions for those with mild to moderate needs in, or close to, schools and colleges (and refer those with more severe needs on to specialist services). Educational Mental Health practitioners’ training places are now open for 210 new staff. Training will start from January 2019. We will also ensure that at least one teacher in every primary and secondary school will receive mental health awareness training to enable school staff to spot common signs of mental health issues, and to help children and young people receive appropriate support. We have also committed to piloting a four week waiting time for access to specialist children and young people’s mental health services.

Hip Replacements

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of elective hip replacement surgery has been outsourced to the private sector in the last three years.

Stephen Barclay: The proportion of elective hip replacement operations which have been outsourced to the private sector in the last three years is shown in the following table. Figures represent the number of operations – not the number of patients – as some patients may have more than one operation. Financial yearAll providersPrivate providersProportion Carried out by Private Providers2015-1678,32820,24526%2016-1781,48422,87028%2017-1878,17223,34030% Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Hospices: Children

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that children’s hospices continue to receive a ring fenced grant from NHS England beyond March 2019.

Caroline Dinenage: Since April 2013, NHS England has managed the Children’s Hospice Grant which is awarded annually. It is a contribution towards the operating costs of the hospices, not core funding for NHS services, for which the statutory responsibility resides with local commissioners. In 2018/19 £11 million has been provided to children’s hospices through the Grant.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by her Department in receipt of universal credit; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: DFID does not hold any data on which members of staff are in receipt of universal credit.

East Africa: Food Supply

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the level of food shortages in (a) Sudan and (b) South Sudan.

Harriett Baldwin: Sudan has faced significant economic and environmental challenges in 2017 and 2018 which have led to a sharp rise in the cost of food. The UN and the Government of Sudan estimated in January 2018 that there are 4.8m people in need of assistance to address food insecurity throughout the country in 2018, although this number has increased to an estimated 7.1m in humanitarian need according to UN assessments. The most vulnerable populations are internally displaced persons and refugees from South Sudan. The UK coordinates closely with the UN to monitor the food security situation. The UK is providing £49.2m to the World Food Programme from 2017 to 2020 to address food security for 1.7m people in the worst affected areas, including an increase of £13m in 2018 to support those affected by the current high cost of food. South Sudan is facing a man-made humanitarian catastrophe following more than four years of fighting. In September 2018, 6.1 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure, including 1.7 million on the edge of famine and 47,000 people in famine-like conditions. This reflects a gradual worsening and broadening of food insecurity in South Sudan. The UK consistently one of the top three humanitarian donors to South Sudan and last year we reached over 420,000 people with food assistance, over 370,000 women and children with nutrition support and over 188,000 families with emergency livelihoods kits to support food production.

Global Financing Facility

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with stakeholders in the international aid sector on her policy on the UK's contribution to the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman and Child (GFF) in advance of the GFF replenishment conference in November; and if she will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for International Development recently held separate meetings with senior leadership at the World Bank, the Norwegian Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where the UK’s contribution to the Global Financing Facility (GFF) was discussed. My officials have also had detailed discussions with the GFF team in the last few weeks. Decisions about any potential future support from the UK will be taken in due course.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by his Department in receipt of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: The department and its executive agencies do not hold the relevant information to be able to estimate the number and proportion of its staff in receipt of universal credit. Universal credit is dependent on an individual’s circumstances. This includes their housing arrangement, caring responsibilities and dependent children. This information is not held by the department.

Special Educational Needs

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the provision of special educational needs and disability in schools; and whether that guidance covers dyslexia.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Children and Families Act 2014 sets out the statutory framework for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which places a number of duties on local authorities and others. Guidance is provided in the 0-25 SEND Code of Practice. This is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25 and is supported by a range of other guidance and information available online both via GOV.UK and on the National Association for Special Educational Needs (Nasen) SEND gateway (https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/). The government takes the support for children and young people with dyslexia seriously. I recently spoke at a global summit on dyslexia attended by more than 200 people, including industry bodies and organisations, educationalists and over 35 overseas foundations and governments who support dyslexia. Between April 2017 and March 2018, the department provided £500,000 to the British Dyslexia Association, in partnership with Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre, the Professional Association of Teachers of Students with Specific Learning Difficulties, the Dyspraxia Foundation and Manchester Metropolitan University, to provide support for children and young people with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. This builds on work with dyslexia organisations the government funded in 2013-15 and 2015-16 to facilitate better support for children with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties This year we are funding Nasen and University College London, on behalf of the Whole School SEND consortium which includes the British Dyslexia Association, to embed SEND into school improvement practice and equip the workforce to deliver high quality teaching across all types of special educational needs (SEN). New SEND regional leads will bring together practitioners and networks in their local area to build a community of practice, help identify regional SEN school improvement priorities and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

Primary Education: Nurseries

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 179290 on Primary education: nurseries, whether a cost benefit analysis is undertaken on plans for new primary schools (a) with and (b) without nursery provision.

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 179290 on Primary Education: nurseries, what estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of including nursery provision in a new primary school.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



All free school applications are subject to a rigorous application process. Each application, including those with a nursery element, is assessed against published criteria. The assessment process includes consideration of the capacity and track record of proposers, financial viability and value for money.The cost of a nursery in a free school is integrated into the total cost of the project. It is not possible to separate out the costs of the nursery alone, as they will generally share facilities and services with the school itself.For the purposes of forecasting, we estimate that the average additional per pupil cost of including a nursery within a primary free school is around £12,000 excluding VAT. For actual projects, costs will depend on a variety of local circumstances including site specifications and pupil numbers.Where local authorities (LAs) identify the need for a new school, they must seek proposals to establish a new free school. They are responsible for setting the specifications (including for a nursery) and assessing applications. LAs are responsible for meeting the associated capital costs, principally using basic need funding provided by the department.LAs are also responsible for approving proposals for new voluntary-aided schools, including where proposals include nursery provision. LAs and proposers are responsible for meeting the associated capital costs, with the proposer expected to cover up to 10% of this amount.

Pupil Premium: Adoption

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department are taking to extend access to pupil premium plus funding for adopted children who are (a) home educated, (b) educated at independent schools and (c) adopted from overseas.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



The government recognises that children adopted from care can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. Pupil Premium funding is only available to children attending state-funded schools or where a local authority is providing significant support for a child’s education. Where parents have decided to educate their children at home, they are only eligible for Pupil Premium if the local authority is providing such support. Similarly, pupil premium is available for pupils attending an independent school only where the local authority is paying all or part of the tuition fees. There are no plans to change this.We have already extended support from Virtual School Heads and designated teachers to children adopted from outside England and Wales and are carefully considering other educational entitlements, including Pupil Premium Plus.

Special Educational Needs

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of school places available for children with special educational needs (SEND) in (a) SEND schools and (b) mainstream schools; and what plans he has to ensure the adequate provision of such places to meet demand.

Nadhim Zahawi: In January 2018 local authorities placed 124,886 pupils with education, health and care plans in mainstream schools and academies, and 111,387 pupils in maintained special schools.The Children and Families Act (2014) requires local authorities to work with parents, young people and providers to keep the provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities under review, including its sufficiency.Local authorities are also able to commission new schools (both special and mainstream) via the free school presumption route, drawing on the basic need and special provision capital funding sources. The department has allocated £265 million of capital funding (over and above basic need funding) to help build new places at mainstream and special schools, and to improve existing places to benefit current and future pupils. We have recently launched a free schools wave, which allows local authorities to set out their case for why a new special free school would benefit their area. We expect to announce the successful local authority areas in early 2019.

Primary Education: Nurseries

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2018 to Question 179290 on Primary Education: Nurseries, how many (a) mainstream and (b) special primary schools that opened since September 2017 (a) have, (b) have plans for and (c) do not have nursery provision.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



37 mainstream primary free schools and one special primary free school have opened since September 2017. 17 of the mainstream primary free schools have nursery provision and six have plans for nursery provision. 14 of the mainstream primary free schools and the one special primary school that opened since September 2017 do not currently have, or have plans for, nursery provision. In addition to this, four voluntary-aided primary schools have opened during this period, one of which includes nursery provision. The department does not hold information on the number of these schools planning nursery provision. These figures relate to schools that have exclusively primary-aged pupils.

Opportunity North East: Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to include any Sunderland secondary schools in his key secondary schools identified as part of Opportunity North East.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria were used to identify the four areas that will be focused on in Opportunity North East.

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of Opportunity North East on (a) secondary school outcomes, (b) the number of young people attending Russell Group universities and (c) teacher retention in Sunderland.

Nadhim Zahawi: We have not yet agreed which schools we will offer intensive support to through the programme. We expect that there will be key secondary schools in each of the 12 local authority areas. Local authorities and academy trusts will be invited to inform prioritisation of schools to receive the additional support from the programme before the end of the autumn term. Opportunity North East is a pan regional programme. The £12 million we have announced for early roll-out of the Early Career Teacher Framework will benefit all schools in the North East, and the remaining £12 million will be spent across the five priorities that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has set out Improving secondary performance is at the core of the programme, and we expect this to be reflected in the way that resources are allocated to have the impact we want to see. We recognise that there are some areas within the North East that feel the challenges we have set out particularly acutely, evidenced across a range of indicators including: the areas identified in the bottom two sextiles using the Achieving Excellence Areas methodology, educational performance at key stage 4, and the proportion of secondary aged pupils that are able to attend Good or Outstanding schools. Within the context of a pan regional programme, it is important that we ensure that those areas benefit appropriately from this programme. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has been clear that Opportunity North East is about working in partnership with stakeholders from across the region. My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System will be convening a Strategic Board to oversee the programme, made up of representatives from local authorities and the education and business sectors in the North East. The board’s remit will include developing ambitious but realistic performance metrics for improvements across the region in secondary outcomes, progression to higher education and teacher recruitment and retention; and informing decisions about how funding will be used. The board will also be responsible for approving the final set of schools to receive intensive support.

Teachers: North East

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the number of teaching vacancies in (a) the North East and (b) Sunderland in (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.

Nick Gibb: The following attached table provides the number of full-time classroom teacher vacancies[1] and temporarily filled posts[2] in state funded secondary schools in the North East region, Sunderland local authority and in England, as of November 2016 and 2017.This information is publicly available here[3]: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2017. [1] Includes advertised vacancies for full-time permanent appointments (or appointments of at least one term’s duration) plus vacancies filled on a temporary basis by a teacher on a contract of less than one year.[2] Temporarily filled posts are those where a vacancy exists, advertised or not, which is currently being filled by a teacher on a contract of at least one term but less than a year.[3] Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.



teacher_vacancies_North_East_Sunderland_16_17
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Children: Day Care

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) financial situation and (b) ability to work of families that have a child eligible for 30 hours of free childcare of not applying for an eligibility code for that childcare.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government is committed to ensuring parents who want it have access to high-quality childcare to support them financially and to enable them to work, or work more hours. We do not expect all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours offer to take up a place for their child - parents may choose to use other childcare arrangements, for example, family members.Parents who are eligible for 30 hours but do not apply are eligible for the universal 15 hour per week early education entitlement. They can also take advantage of Tax-Free Childcare which was introduced earlier this year.

Collective Spirit Free School Oldham: Pensions

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether all employee and employer pension contributions for former staff of the Collective Spirit Free School are up to date.

Nadhim Zahawi: Employee and employer pension contributions for former staff of the Collective Spirit Free School are a matter for the Trust.

Apprentices

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers will reopen for applications.

Anne Milton: The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is currently reviewing the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers and intends to re-open it for applications this autumn. I want to ensure that the register provides assurance to employers that the training providers they choose have the capacity and capability to deliver good quality apprenticeship training. Further details on the updates that the ESFA is making to the apprenticeship register and the timing of its re-opening will be available in the coming weeks.

Teachers: Pay

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Written Statement of 24 October 2018 on Teachers' Pay Grant, Official Report HCWS1028, for what reason his Department decided to use pupil numbers as the basis for distributing the grant; and what consultation his Department undertook on that issue.

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to the Written Statement of 24 October 2018 on Teachers' Pay Grant, Official Report HCWS1028, what estimate he has made of the number of schools that (a) will and (b) will not have the full cost of the increase in teachers' pay above the first 1 per cent of the rise covered by that grant.

Nick Gibb: Nationally, the Teachers’ Pay Grant of £508 million covers the difference between the 1% pay award schools would have been planning for under the previous public sector pay cap and the average of the 2018 pay award. At a school level, the Government is using a per-pupil formula to allocate the funding, to ensure simplicity and timeliness in getting money to schools. Not every school has the same staffing structure, and so the grant will not exactly match their costs in every case. Officials met with a number of stakeholder groups to discuss the methodology of the grant, and took account of the views expressed in determining its final structure.

Regional Schools Commissioner and Schools Commissioner

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the running costs have been of the (a) National Schools Commissioner and (b) Regional Schools Commissioners in each fiscal year since 2014-15.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff work under the (a) National Schools Commissioner and (b) Regional Schools Commissioners.

Nadhim Zahawi: The information requested is shown in the table in Annex A, which is attached. With regard to workforce costs, the first year set-up and running costs for the National Schools Commissioner (NSC), Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) and their teams for the financial year 2014-15 was £4.1 million. This was funded from existing departmental resources. Many of the duties carried out in RSC offices were previously handled by local authorities. As a result of structural changes within the department in 2016-17, the Academies Regional Delivery Group (ARDG) was created. This incorporated the NSC and RSCs with complementary regional functions and other functions. Workforce costs for ARDG are therefore not comparable with predecessor structures and organisation.



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Teachers: Pensions

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2018 to Question 179233, what estimate he has made of the cost to employers other than state-funded schools of increasing the employer contribution to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Teachers: Pensions

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2018 to Question 179233, whether he plans to provide funding to for-profit providers of independent special schools to meet their increased employer contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Skilled Workers

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how often (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have held meetings with (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in the Department of Work and Pensions on skills gaps and needs; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Ministers in the department meet regularly with ministers of other government departments to discuss interrelated policy areas, including skills needs. The department’s officials also have regular engagement with the Department of Work and Pensions on a range of skills issues. This includes discussions on the National Retraining Scheme, which will give adults the skills they need to thrive as the economy changes, and Skills Advisory Panels, which will bring together local representatives to identify and address local skills gaps.

Employment: Artificial Intelligence

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the use of artificial intelligence on skills and training; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: Automation and modernisation will have a significant impact on the jobs market over the next 10-20 years, bringing new challenges and opportunities. The National Retraining Scheme, announced in the 2017 Autumn Budget, is an ambitious and far-reaching programme to drive adult retraining. The Scheme will help those most at risk and in precarious employment to gain the skills they need to thrive as the economy changes.In addition, the government has committed up to £30 million to develop innovative ways to use education technology and artificial intelligence in education to deliver improved learning outcomes. This funding takes effect from 2019-20 onwards and further details will be announced shortly.

Higher Education: Standards

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to include grade inflation as a criterion measured by the Teaching Excellence Framework.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to include the incidence of grade inflation in his review of the teaching excellence framework.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the membership of the panel of the teaching excellence framework.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) includes supplementary data about grade inflation as a measure to aid assessors in making judgements about the TEF criterion on ‘Rigour and Stretch’. The independent panel will take this data into account, alongside other evidence, as part of their holistic judgement to produce a TEF rating, during the TEF assessment process.The scope of the report that the reviewer will prepare is set out in Section 26 of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017. This includes a review of the TEF process and the sources of statistical information used in that process. The reviewer may also consider other matters that they consider relevant.The membership of the panel and subject pilot panels for TEF for academic year 2017/18 is published by the Office for Students (OfS) on its website. The OfS is currently in the process of recruiting panel members for academic year 2018/19.

Teachers: Pay

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of teachers are on the (a) main, (b) upper, and (c) leadership pay scales in (i) the UK, (ii) each region of the UK and (iii) in each local authority.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Confederation of School Trusts: Speeches

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will place in the Library an unredacted version of the speech entitled Damian Hinds speech at Confederation of School Trusts conference, published by his Department on Gov.uk on 11 October 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: A copy of this speech will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ministry of Justice

Young Offender Institutions

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children in young offender institutions were locked in their cells for (a) 22 hours a day and (b) more than 22 hours a day in each of the last 5 years.

Edward Argar: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 14 May 2018.The correct answer should have been:

The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is one of our highest priorities and is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system. We are committed to reforming youth custody so that it is safer for both young people and staff, as well as being better equipped to help young people turn their lives around. There are some occasions when young people in custody are putting themselves or others at risk, during which segregation can be used as a last resort for limited periods of time when no other form of intervention is suitable. Any decision to remove a young person from association is subject to regular review and a range of safeguarding measures are in place to ensure appropriate oversight of their care. There are careful limits placed on the length of time for which young people can be removed from association without review of the decision to remove.   Please see the number of hours of segregation that young people have been placed on, broken down via each Young Offender Institute (YOI) within each of the past five years. Please note that the data collected below is classified by the number of hours young people in total have been on segregation in each current YOI establishment. We do not have a breakdown via the number of young people that have been in segregation and nor the number of hours spent per segregation.  No. of Hours young people in 'Segregation' forEstablishment201320142015201620172018Sub-totalHMYOI Cookham Wood744200923922000257671010431HMYOI Feltham223212291286113912742797439HMYIO ParcN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AHMYOI Werrington100311851732204517652838013HMYOI Wetherby157814001592158913942637816Sub-Total258155572585582333247002363467733159700954615351582933699NotesThis is unpublished data that is not in the public domain.2018 figures only apply to the months from January to March 2018.We have not included data for HMYOI Ashfield, HMYOI Hindley and HMYOI Warren Hill. These establishments also held young people at times during the period requested but were all decommissioned.The data from HMYOI Parc is not comparable as it relates to single separation data – not time on segregation.This data includes some 18 year olds who remain in the under 18 secure estate.These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Dr Phillip Lee: The safety and welfare of young people held in custody is one of our highest priorities and is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system. We are committed to reforming youth custody so that it is safer for both young people and staff, as well as being better equipped to help young people turn their lives around. There are some occasions when young people in custody are putting themselves or others at risk, during which segregation can be used as a last resort for limited periods of time when no other form of intervention is suitable. Any decision to remove a young person from association is subject to regular review and a range of safeguarding measures are in place to ensure appropriate oversight of their care. There are careful limits placed on the length of time for which young people can be removed from association without review of the decision to remove.   Please see the number of hours of segregation that young people have been placed on, broken down via each Young Offender Institute (YOI) within each of the past five years. Please note that the data collected below is classified by the number of hours young people in total have been on segregation in each current YOI establishment. We do not have a breakdown via the number of young people that have been in segregation and nor the number of hours spent per segregation.  No. of Hours young people in 'Segregation' forEstablishment201320142015201620172018Sub-totalHMYOI Cookham Wood744200923922000257671010431HMYOI Feltham223212291286113912742797439HMYIO ParcN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AHMYOI Werrington100311851732204517652838013HMYOI Wetherby157814001592158913942637816Sub-Total258155572585582333247002363467733159700954615351582933699NotesThis is unpublished data that is not in the public domain.2018 figures only apply to the months from January to March 2018.We have not included data for HMYOI Ashfield, HMYOI Hindley and HMYOI Warren Hill. These establishments also held young people at times during the period requested but were all decommissioned.The data from HMYOI Parc is not comparable as it relates to single separation data – not time on segregation.This data includes some 18 year olds who remain in the under 18 secure estate.These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

Ministry of Justice: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by his Department in receipt of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: Members of staff apply for universal credit in a personal capacity and there are a number of different factors which determine whether or not an individual is eligible. The Department has no central record from which to determine the number and proportion of its staff in receipt of universal credit therefore it is not be possible for the Secretary of State for Justice to make an estimate of numbers, or a statement.

Prison Officers: Sick Leave

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to (a) anxiety and (b) depression in England in each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers in that have taken sick leave due to stress in England each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave because of PTSD in England in each year since 2012.

Rory Stewart: In response to PQ 181614, it is only possible to provide figures for anxiety and depression together as they are not held separately and often amalgamated on the central records of sickness absences. The number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety or depression in England in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 1 below. Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to Anxiety or Depression2 in England, 2011/12 to 2018/19 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety and depression2011/125412012/135442013/145622014/154832015/164992016/1731102017/183467  In response to PQ 181617, the number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in England in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 2 below. Table 2 - Number of Band 3 to 5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to stress2 in England, 2011/12 to 2018/19 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to stress2011/128132012/137472013/149242014/158512015/168132016/1738692017/183696 Notes to tables 1 and 21 Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl. specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2 If an individual has taken sick leave more than once due to this reason in the same financial year, they are only counted once.3 Between January and March 2017, during migration of data to the Single Operating Platform, an under-recording of sickness absence records occurred. There is therefore likely to be an undercount of working days lost for the 12 months to 31 March 2017 and subsequent under-estimate of average working days lost.In response to PQ 181622, information is not available centrally on the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to PTSD. HMPPS is committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff in England and Wales, with all staff having access to a comprehensive occupational health service and employee assistance programme.

Prison Officers: Sick Leave

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to (a) anxiety and (b) depression in Wales in each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in Wales in each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave because of PTSD in Wales in each year since 2012.

Rory Stewart: In response to PQ 181615, it is only possible to provide figures for anxiety and depression together as they are not held separately and often amalgamated on the central records of sickness absences. The number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety or depression in Wales in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 1 below. Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to Anxiety or Depression2 in England, 2011/12 to 2017/18 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety and depression2011/12132012/13102013/14122014/1562015/16112016/17352017/18324  In response to PQ 181618, the number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in Wales in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 2 below. Table 2 - Number of Band 3 to 5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to stress2 in England, 2011/12 to 2017/18 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to stress2011/12112012/13182013/14182014/15212015/16222016/173432017/18346 Notes to tables 1 and 21 Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl. specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2 If an individual has taken sick leave more than once due to this reason in the same financial year, they are only counted once.3 Between January and March 2017, during migration of data to the Single Operating Platform, an under-recording of sickness absence records occurred. There is therefore likely to be an undercount of working days lost for the 12 months to 31 March 2017 and subsequent under-estimate of average working days lost.In response to PQ 181621, information is not available centrally on the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to PTSD. HMPPS is committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff in England and Wales, with all staff having access to a comprehensive occupational health service and employee assistance programme.

Prison Officers: Sick Leave

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers in each prison in the UK that have taken sick leave due to (a) anxiety and (b) depression in each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers in each prison in the UK that have taken sick leave due to stress in each year since 2012.

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of prison officers in each prison in the UK that have taken sick leave because of PTSD in each year since 2012.

Rory Stewart: HMPPS cannot answer this fully as responsibility for the information in Scotland and Northern Ireland rests with the devolved administrations. In response to PQ 181616, it is only possible to provide figures for anxiety and depression together as they are not held separately and often amalgamated on the central records of sickness absences. The number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety or depression in England and Wales in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 1 below. Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to Anxiety or Depression2 in England and Wales, 2011/12 to 2018/19 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety and depression in EnglandBand 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to anxiety and depression in Wales2011/12541132012/13544102013/14562122014/1548362015/16499112016/17311052017/18346724  In response to PQ 181619, the number of band 3-5 prison officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in England and Wales in each year since 2012 is provided in Table 2 below. Table 2 - Number of Band 3 to 5 prison officers1 who took sick leave due to stress2 in England and Wales, 2011/12 to 2018/19 Band 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in EnglandBand 3-5 officers that have taken sick leave due to stress in Wales2011/12813112012/13747182013/14924182014/15851212015/16813222016/173869432017/18369646 Notes to tables 1 and 21 Includes Band 3-4 / Prison Officer (incl. specialists), Band 4 / Supervising Officer and Band 5 / Custodial Managers.2 If an individual has taken sick leave more than once due to this reason in the same financial year, they are only counted once.3 Between January and March 2017, during migration of data to the Single Operating Platform, an under-recording of sickness absence records occurred. There is therefore likely to be an undercount of working days lost for the 12 months to 31 March 2017 and subsequent under-estimate of average working days lost.In response to PQ 181620, information is not available centrally on the number of prison officers that have taken sick leave due to PTSD. HMPPS is committed to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff in England and Wales, with all staff having access to a comprehensive occupational health service and employee assistance programme.

Offenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his oral contribution of 9 October, Official Report, column 10, what the Government’s definition of a petty offender is.

Rory Stewart: The Secretary of State was using the phrase petty offender in accordance with its ordinary meaning, namely an offender who commits offences which are not considered serious when compared with some other offences.

Ministry of Justice: Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much money his Department has spent with (a) Agilespehere, (b) Digi2al (c) Kainos and (d) Solirious since 2015.

Edward Argar: The total spends for the Ministry of Justice with Kainos and Digi2al is provided in the below table. The Ministry of Justice does not hold any contracts for goods or services with Agilesphere or Solirious.Supplier2015201620172018KAINOS SOFTWARE LTD£2,442,647.66£10,719,225.82£11,871,334.17£5,119,980.73DIGI2AL LTD£429,569.00£2,881,236.60£7,066,668.83£4,970,356.56   The spend data provided for 2018 is to June 2018 only. Since January 2011, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search”

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals relating to claims for (a) personal independence payment and (b) employment and support allowance have (i) been heard at Tribunal and (ii) overturned her Department's original decision in each year for which information is available.

Lucy Frazer: Information about the volumes and outcomes of appeals made to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS), including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, 3.5 million decisions have been made up to June 2018, and of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at Tribunals. For ESA, 3.5m ESA (post Work Capability Assessment) decisions have been made between April 2014 and March 2018 and of these 8% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse was for Tribunal appeals relating to (a) personal independence payment and (b) employment and support allowance in each year for which information is available.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is not held centrally. The cost of Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance hearings is included in the overall cost of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Appeal).

Prisoners' Release: Homelessness

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people on being released from prison have been classified as having (a) no fixed abode and (b) insecure housing in each year since 2014.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of referrals to Community Rehabilitation Centres have resulted in successful placement in (a) short-term and (b) long-term accommodation.

Rory Stewart: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Data on accommodation status of offenders released from custody to the supervision of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs), is published as part of Community Performance statistics, with data available from the October-December 2015 quarter. The latest publication can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-performance-quarterly-mi-update-to-june-2018. It may also be useful to see the accompanying annex to that publication which includes the accommodation status for all offenders released from custody, including those under National Probation Service (NPS) supervision, and offenders on community sentences: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/729062/accommodation-cirumstances-tables-2018.xlsx. Everyone leaving custody should have a safe and suitable home to go to on release; having somewhere to live gives people a stable platform from which to access health services, hold down a job and reduces the likelihood of them reoffending. Staff in both CRCs and the NPS work together with local authorities and other providers of accommodation with the aim of ensuring all offenders have accommodation on release. The Government recently published its Rough Sleeping Strategy, launching a £100 million initiative to reduce and ultimately eliminate rough sleeping across England. As part of this strategy, MoJ and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), will be investing approximately £6m over two years in a pilot scheme to support ex-offenders secure suitable accommodation upon release. The Cabinet Office has also introduced a new Reducing Reoffending Board that will work across government to tackle some of the main causes of reoffending, including the lack of suitable accommodation on release.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of appeals made to the special educational needs and disability tribunal in each year since 2014; and of those appeals, how many have found against local authorities in (a) Dulwich and West Norwood, (b) London and (c) England.

Lucy Frazer: It has not been possible to provide an analysis of the figures at constituency level. The figures provided below are for the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth, part of which fall within the Dulwich and Norwood constituency. Our monitoring and statistics show that 75% of appeals scheduled for a final hearing do settle or concede prior to the hearing date with a decision at hearing not required. Appeals MadeSouthwarkLambethTOTALLONDONNATIONAL2014 – 1526517778431472015 – 1626356179137122016 – 1744327682347252017 - 18 (*)763711311315679 Disposed (**)SOUTHWARK DecidedSOUTHWARK In Favour of AppellantSOUTHWARK Decisions UpheldLAMBETH DecidedLAMBETH In Favour of AppellantLAMBETH Decisions Upheld2014 - 15761313012015 - 1617134171702016 - 1726206151322017 - 183231118162  LONDON Appeals DecidedLONDON In favour of Appellant (***)LONDON Decisions upheldNational Appeals DecidedNational In favour of Appellant (***)National Decisions upheld2014-15288252367886801082015-16301270318837801032016-1738534342159914181812017-184073594822982035263  * - 2017 - 18 figures have not yet been published and are currently being analysed and verified ready for publication on 13 December 2018 as part of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunals annual statistics ** - Appeals disposed are within the same time period. In SEND the Tribunal hears appeals within 22 weeks of the appeal registered. Therefore, figures may be different from those registered in the period as those hearings could follow into the next reporting year. *** - The Tribunal reports a successful appeal if one part or all of the appeal is found in favour of the parent or young person. HMCTS manual data collections show that 75% of appeals scheduled for a final hearing do settle or concede prior to the hearing date with a decision at hearing not required.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the waiting times for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment tribunals in (i) the North West, (ii) London and (iii) England, in each of the last three months for which information is available.

Lucy Frazer: Information about the volumes and outcomes of appeals - including (i) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and (ii) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) (SSCS) is published at:www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics Latest figures indicate that since PIP was introduced, 3.5 million decisions have been made up to June 2018, and of these 9% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at Tribunals. For ESA, 3.5m ESA (post WCA) decisions have been made between April 2014 and March 2018 and of these 8% have been appealed and 4% have been overturned at tribunals. SSCS appeals are listed into the hearing venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. The published csv files (which can be viewed at the link above) provide information about the outcomes of PIP and ESA appeals for hearing venues covering (i) the North West, (ii) London and (iii) England for the period April to June 2018, the latest period for which data are available.

Treasury

Revenue and Customs: Reorganisation

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 7 March 2018, Official report, column 428, what estimate he has made of the cash savings for 2025-26 onwards arising from the HMRC Building our Future Programme.

Mel Stride: Moving to regional centres will save around £300 million up to 2025. HMRC’s Locations Programme will deliver annual cash savings of £74 million in 2025/26, rising to around £90 million from 2028.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 11 May 2018 to Question 141715 on Taxation: Self-Assessment, how many of the 746,000 self-assessment tax returns that were outstanding and filed after 31 January 2018 were estimated not to have been liable to pay a fine.

Mel Stride: HMRC automatically applies a penalty or fine on any self-assessment return that is submitted late. Customers can object or appeal against a penalty levied for late submission. If HMRC accept the explanation for the late return the penalty will be cancelled.HMRC does not have an estimate of how many customers appealed or objected, or how many penalties or fines were cancelled.

Government Departments: Brexit

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for each (a) government department and (b) non-departmental public body how much additional funding to support EU-exit related activity in (i) 2018-19 and (ii) 2019-20 has been (A) bid for and (B) allocated; and whether his Department plans to invite further such bids for such funding in 2018-19.

Elizabeth Truss: At the Autumn Budget 2017, the Government committed an additional £3 billion over 2018/19 and 2019/20 to help departments and non-departmental public bodies prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU. As part of the bidding process, non-departmental bodies bid through central departments. The final allocations for 2018/19 were announced at Spring Statement 2018, with just over £1.5bn allocated to departments and non-departmental public bodies. A full breakdown of allocations can be found in the Chief Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS540, laid on the 13th March (https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-03-13/HCWS540/) The Treasury is discussing EU Exit preparations for 2019/20 with departments and allocations will be announced in due course.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers are paying the apprenticeship levy; and how many levy payers there are in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales.

Mel Stride: The number of businesses paying the Apprenticeship Levy is not available. HMRC collects data on a Pay As You Earn (PAYE) scheme basis.

Public Finance

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's definition of austerity is; and how his Department measures austerity.

Elizabeth Truss: The Chancellor will set out the government’s plans for the economy and public finances in detail at Budget.

Import Duties

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to announce the rate of customs levies charged on the UK for 30 March 2019 as part of the planning for the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Mel Stride: We are focused on negotiating an ambitious future relationship with the EU, which secures frictionless access at the border to each other’s markets for goods. However, in the event of a “no deal” the Government will determine and publish these new UK duty rates before we leave the EU.

Brexit

Mr Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish immediately and in full detail the cross-Whitehall Brexit analysis and the underlying models and assumptions supporting that analysis.

John Glen: The Government has confirmed that once we have agreed a deal with the EU, the Government will provide Parliament with the appropriate analysis of that deal ahead of the vote on the final deal. With negotiations ongoing, it would not be practical or sensible to set out the details of exactly how the Government will analyse the final deal. The Government will therefore not provide an ongoing commentary on internal analytical work.

Fire and Rescue Services: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the year on year changes to central government grants to the UK Fire and Rescue service in each of the last seven years.

Elizabeth Truss: Overall Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) will receive around £2.3 billion in 2018/19. Single purpose FRAs will see an increase in core spending power of 1.2% in cash terms in 2018/19 and an overall increase of 0.3% from 2015/16 to 2019/20.Financial reserves held by single purpose FRAs increased by 80% to £545 million between 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2018. This is equivalent to 42% of their core spending power.As fire services are devolved, these figures apply to England only.

Credit: Interest Rates

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many breaches of the affordability checks by payday lenders have the Financial Conduct Authority recorded in the last financial year.

John Glen: On 1 April 2014, regulation of the consumer credit market, including payday lenders, was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We have passed the Honourable Gentleman’s question on to the FCA, who will reply directly by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Council Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to increase the building of new council homes.

James Brokenshire: The Prime Minister announced on 3 October at the Conservative Party Conference that the caps on local authorities borrowing to fund the construction of new homes will be removed, enabling them to fund a new generation of council housing that meets the needs of local people. On 18 October we wrote to stock owning local authorities consulting them on a draft determination revoking previous determinations that specified a local authority's limits of indebtedness.In addition, local authorities can bid alongside housing associations for the £9 billion Affordable Homes Programme to build affordable homes. We are also providing a longer term rent deal for 5 years from 2020 to provide local authorities with a stable investment to deliver new homes, and we have consulted on options for allowing local authorities more flexibility in the use of their Right to Buy receipts, including extending the time limit for spending Right to Buy receipts from three years to five years for existing receipts.

Housing Revenue Accounts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the number of local authorities without a housing revenue account.

James Brokenshire: There are 160 local housing authorities without a Housing Revenue Account, as they have transferred their housing stock to a housing association. The requirement to account for housing in the HRA is disapplied if an authority has less than 200 homes in its housing stock.

Planning Permission

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it remains Government policy that intentional unauthorised development should be a material planning consideration under the new National Planning Policy Framework.

Kit Malthouse: The Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS423) regarding Green Belt protection and intentional unauthorised development, made by my Right Hon Friend the Member for Great Yarmouth on 17 December 2015, is still a potential material consideration in a planning case.

Housing: Construction

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of planning applications for new homes that comply with (a) Category 2  and (b) Category 3 of volume 1 of Part M of the Building Regulations.

Kit Malthouse: The Building Act 1984 allows, but does not require, a local planning authority to impose building regulations requirements M4(2) or M4(3) of Schedule 1 to the Building Regulations 2010 on dwellings to be erected. However, this Department holds no records of the number of new dwellings where these requirements have been imposed.

European Regional Development Fund

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had on replacing the European Regional Development Fund after the UK leaves the EU to ensure that funding to English regions is maintained.

Jake Berry: We will create the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) following our departure from the European Union. The new fund will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind.We know that places require certainty of funding after we leave the European Union. The draft Withdrawal Agreement guarantees the UK will continue to take part in the 2014-2020 EU programmes until they end. We continue to plan for all scenarios, including a no deal, in which, the government has extended this guarantee for the full EU 2014-20 programme. This provides certainty and clarity in the event of a no-deal and allows for a smooth transition to a domestic replacement.We will continue to engage widely ahead of a public consultation intended for later this year, providing all interested parties with an opportunity to convey their views. This will inform decisions on the operation and allocation of the UKSPF, which will be subject to the 2019 Spending Review.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to undertake a consultation on the design of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Jake Berry: We continue to work on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ahead of a public consultation intended for later this year, as announced in the Industrial Strategy.

Ministry of Defence

Iraq: Military Intervention

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of (a) civilian casualties, (b) damage to property, community facilities and infrastructure by RAF strikes in Mosul in 2016-17.

Mark Lancaster: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



The RAF does everything it can to minimise the risk to human life and to civilian infrastructure from UK strikes, through our rigorous targeting processes and the professionalism of the RAF crews. All RAF weapons are deployed in strict accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and rigorous Rules of Engagement.Thus all strikes we carried out in Mosul were designed to cause the minimum amount of damage, proportionate to the task of clearing the city of the terrorist threat posed by Daesh.Given the ruthless and inhumane behaviour of Daesh, we must accept that the risk of inadvertent civilian casualties is ever present. We have not seen any evidence that we caused civilian casualties during the campaign in Mosul.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether restrictions have been placed on the work of Saudi-based UK (a) military personnel and (b) private contractors to his Department, in relation to the (i) preparation, (ii) maintenance and (iii) operational use of air-delivered weapons used in the conflict in Yemen.

Stuart Andrew: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



UK-contracted personnel, including UK military personnel on secondment to BAE Systems, support the safe storage and issue of weapons from their place of storage to an end user, in accordance with long-standing government-to-government arrangements.They do not load weapons for operations in Yemen, nor are they involved in the planning of operational sorties.The UK Government operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world.

Ministry of Defence: Brexit

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preparations his Department has made for the UK leaving the EU.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the armed forces of the UK leaving the EU.

Mark Lancaster: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) and other Government Departments to ensure that we can address the implications and realise the opportunities of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the effect on our Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Housing

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to improve (a) housing and (b) lodgings for armed forces personnel.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



Quality accommodation is very important for Defence and a key enabler of operational capability. The Ministry of Defence continues to make improvements to the Service Family Accommodation (SFA) and Single Living Accommodation (SLA) estate. In addition to routine maintenance, we have invested in improving energy efficiency through the provision of new boilers, doors and windows, roofs, and external wall insulation. Additionally, we have installed thousands of new kitchens and bathrooms to provide our Armed Forces and their families with modern facilities. The number of properties that meet the Government Decent Homes standard has increased significantly and now sits at more than 95% of our total stock. The Single Living Accommodation Modernisation project, has been one of the largest new build and refurbishment projects in the UK and has delivered successful renovations and constructions on 52 locations from Scotland to Cornwall over the last 15 years with over £1.2 billion invested; and we continue to invest in both of these areas. In parallel, we are developing new accommodation options for service personnel through the Future Accommodation Model programme.

Armed Forces: Political Parties and Trade Unions

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review his Department's policy on the right of armed forces personnel to join a (a) trades union and (b) political party.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



Regular Armed Forces personnel may become members of civilian trade unions and political parties. Armed Forces personnel are however not permitted to participate in industrial action or take any active part in the affairs of political organisation, party or movement. Personnel are expected to abide by Queen's Regulations and act in accordance with Service values and standards.

Reserve Forces: Staff

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time reservists there were in each year between 2015 and 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



This information can be found in the Quarterly Service Personnel Statistics at Table 3b, which has a breakdown of Full-Time Reservists since 2015:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/735714/1_July_2018_-_SPS.xlsx

Armed Forces: Coroners

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 26 October 2016 to Question 49922 on armed forces: coroners, what differences there are with respect to coroner notification between a military organised repatriation and funeral from Scotland and organised repatriation of remains from other countries.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Where the death of a member of the UK Armed Forces has occurred in Scotland and where the family have requested the deceased body to be conveyed into England or Wales for burial or cremation, the arrangements are managed by the family appointed funeral director. This includes notification to the relevant English or Welsh Coroner.Repatriation of a deceased member of the UK Armed Forces from any other country in the world back to the UK is managed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) through the MOD's Repatriation contractor. This includes the notification to the relevant Coroner.In both circumstances the family of the deceased are always supported by MOD welfare teams.

USA: Trident Submarines

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) employees of the United States Government and the US Electric Boat company have been seconded to the Dreadnought programme and (b) UK Government employees working on the Dreadnought programme are currently based in the United States.

Stuart Andrew: We are interpreting this question as individuals providing direct support to the Dreadnought programme and it excludes sub-contractors and individuals working within the wider nuclear enterprise.There are currently 43 employees of the United States Government and US General Dynamics Electric Boat company seconded to the Dreadnought programme and there are 20 UK Government employees working on the Dreadnought programme based in the United States. Employees work on a range of programme elements, such as Nuclear Propulsion and the Common Missile Compartment which support both the US and UK programmes.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential security risk to north Wales of training Saudi pilots at RAF Valley.

Mark Lancaster: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



All security assessments are kept under review. The current assessment is that there is a negligible potential security risk associated with training Saudi pilots at RAF Valley.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of risk of UK weapons being used by Saudi Arabia in Yemen in military action deemed illegal under international law.

Mark Lancaster: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



Our arms export licensing regime is one of the most rigorous in the world.The key test for our arms exports to Saudi Arabia in relation to international humanitarian law (IHL) is whether there is a clear risk that those items subject to the licence might be used in a serious violation of IHL. The situation is kept under careful and continual review.

Ministry of Defence: Written Questions

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2018 to Question 180221 on Ministry of Defence: Written Questions, what the time frame is for the completion of that work.

Stuart Andrew: Holding answer received on 26 October 2018



We expect the work to be completed and to be able to provide a substantive answer to the hon. Member's questions before this year's November recess commences.

Saudi Arabia: Military Aid

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with North Wales Police on the potential effect on the security threat level of training Saudi pilots at RAF Valley.

Mark Lancaster: The RAF Police, together with RAF Valley authorities, maintains routine contact with the North Wales Police. The current assessment is that there is a negligible potential security risk to North Wales associated with training Saudi pilots at RAF Valley so there have been no specific discussions with North Wales Police on this subject. All such assessments are kept under constant review.

AWACS: Procurement

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department (a) received and (b) issued any (i) expressions of interest, (ii) preliminary market engagement questionnaires and (iii) pre-qualification questionnaires on the replacement for the E-3D Sentry.

Stuart Andrew: The Government's default position on defence procurement remains competition wherever appropriate. However, in this case the threat has advanced, and is forecast to advance to such a degree, that decisive action is required now to protect national security interests. Whilst a final investment decision has not yet been made, our market analysis has led us to conclude that this pressing need can best be met by the operationally-proven E-7 Wedgetail. Testing the market further through any requests for information would be highly unlikely to identify any other mature system that could meet our pressing need whilst creating nugatory effort, cost and delay, during which the gap between UK capability and the evolving threat is expected to widen.

AWACS: Procurement

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what factors his Department considered when assessing the value for money of the replacement for the E-3D Sentry.

Stuart Andrew: Any options presented to the Ministry of Defence Investment Approvals Committee balance schedule, capabilities, risk and cost to determine the best value for money proposition to meet the given need.

Armed Forces: Dogs

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many re-homed military working dogs have been subsequently returned to his Department's jurisdiction in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In the last five years, the British Army has recorded that two military working dogs have been returned to the Ministry of Defence after having been initially rehomed. Both of these cases were in 2015.

Armed Forces

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of (a) service personnel and (b) support staff were born in (a) non-UK EU states (b) commonwealth countries and (c) the rest of the world.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of regular Armed Forces personnel as at 1 April 2018 who report a country of birth that is a non-UK EU country is 4,660. This represents 3.4% of the regular Armed Forces who have a known country of birth.The number of regular Armed Forces personnel as at 1 April 2018 who report a country of birth that is a non-UK Commonwealth country is 8,330. This represents 6.0% of the regular Armed Forces who have a known country of birth. These figures include personnel with a country of birth of Malta and Cyprus, these personnel are also contained in the figures in part (a) of this response (Hence the figures in parts (a), (b) and (c) cannot be added to give the non-UK total). Personnel reporting The Gambia and Zimbabwe as their country of birth are included in these figures.The number of regular Armed Forces personnel as at 1 April 2018 who report a country of birth that is a non-UK, EU or Commonwealth country is 2,890. This represents 2.1% of the regular Armed Forces.Country of birth has a 94.9% declaration rate on the Armed Forces administration system with 7,450 personnel with an unknown country of birth. Non-UK refers to personnel who do not report a country of birth that is either the United Kingdom, any British Overseas Territory or Crown dependency.Although the country of birth may be non UK or Commonwealth, personnel must hold a British or Commonwealth nationality to join the Armed Forces.Figures in this response have been rounded to the nearest 10.For the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) civil servants, the civilian administration system does not make it mandatory to record their place of birth. Around 25% of MOD civilians have declared their place of birth on the system, which is not a high enough figure to provide a meaningful analysis.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report published by the Trussell Trust on 5 October 2018 entitled The next stages of Universal Credit, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that people switching to universal credit do not fall into food poverty.

Alok Sharma: Holding answer received on 15 October 2018



 We work closely with The Trussell Trust and welcome their feedback. It is worth noting that much of their analysis was carried out before the improvements we announced at Autumn Budget 2017, and which were introduced earlier this year. The comprehensive and wide-ranging package worth £1.5 billion to help people in their first assessment period included, the abolition of waiting days, the introduction of advances up to 100% of a claimant’s indicative award (repayable over a period of up to 12 months), and a two week transitional payment for those previously claiming Housing Benefit. The Trust welcomed our changes in the Budget saying they would “ease the pressure on thousands of households on very low incomes” and “shows that Government is listening”. Earlier this month, we announced a new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver Universal Support. We want to make sure that the most vulnerable people get the best possible support when claiming Universal Credit. Citizens Advice will help deliver a high-quality and consistent service to people claiming Universal Credit, to assist them manage their claim, get paid on time and budget effectively. This was welcomed by the Trussell Trust. As part of the managed migration regulations which will come before Parliament in the autumn, we have proposed transitional protection for the 500,000 individuals currently receiving the Severe Disability Premium. It should also be noted that in the legacy benefits system there are £2.4bn of unclaimed benefits not taken up by people who need them, because they do not know about them. These regulations will ensure that 700,000 more households will get paid their full entitlement under Universal Credit. We do not underestimate the challenge that managed migration represents and we are working closely with stakeholders to design the best solution. Our focus will be on safeguarding claimants and ensuring a smooth transition with uninterrupted support. The draft regulations have been out for consultation with the Social Security Advisory Committee and will be subject to scrutiny and approval by Parliament. During 2019 we will test and refine our processes on a small scale to ensure they are working well before we take on larger volumes from 2020 onwards, and complete the process in 2023.

Department for Work and Pensions: Domestic Visits

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Departmental offices and job centres she has visited since her appointment; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: The Secretary of State regularly visits DWP sites, including Jobcentres, in different parts of the country

Universal Credit: Suicide

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to improve support for people at risk of suicide (a) claiming and (b) transitioning to universal credit.

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to investigate reported links between (a) suicide and (b) attempted suicide and migration to universal credit.

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the sufficiency of the processes in job centres to support staff with clients expressing suicidal thoughts.

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support those with mental health issues to claim universal credit.

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the universal credit transition process on the mental health of applicants.

Sarah Newton: Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously. The Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy, backed by £1.5 million for research, aims to reduce the suicide rate and provide better support to those bereaved or affected by a suicide. The well-being of people accessing and receiving support from DWP is of the utmost importance and we have improved support and guidance for staff on how best to support vulnerable people. We have already started training all Work Coaches, including Universal Credit Full Service Work Coaches, in how to support claimants with mental health conditions. This training will be complete by all Work Coaches in early 2019. They have experience of working with a full range of disabilities and health issues, including mental health issues. In addition to our on-going support for work coaches and claimants, we have recruited new Community Partners who provide expertise, often based on their lived experience and external expertise, of disability and health condition issues. We have also recruited more Disability Employment Advisors who are actively providing advice and guidance on what works for claimants with disabilities, including those with mental health issues. From April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on the responsibility for delivering a strengthened Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country. The support scheme will help claimants through every step of making a Universal Credit claim. It will offer people the comprehensive and practical support they need to get their first payment on time and be ready to manage it when it arrives.

Social Security Benefits: Databases

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress she has made on data sharing between her Department and arms-length management organisations in relation to housing benefit and universal credit claims.

Alok Sharma: The Landlord Portal provides Social Rental Sector landlords, which includes arms-length management organisations, with the ability to submit information directly to the Universal Credit online system, this supports timely and accurate payment of housing costs to Universal Credit claimants. DWP has enrolled more landlords in stages, in tandem with the expansion of the Universal Credit Full Service. Priority has been placed on enrolling the largest landlords that are eligible where possible in order to maximise the number of Universal Credit claimants that can be handled via the portal. By December 2018 we will have covered 90% of social landlords stock on the Portal, and we are looking at how best to complete rollout for the remaining social landlords.

Rents: Arrears

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to claimants in rent arrears.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of claimants who are in rent arrears at the time of their transition to universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson: Safeguards are in place for Universal Credit claimants, including Advances, budgeting support and Alternative Payment Arrangements and research shows that over time claimants successfully reduce their arrears. For Housing Benefit claimants there are also safeguards in place such as paying Housing Benefit directly to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to eight weeks. Claimants already receiving Housing Benefit are paid an additional two weeks of Housing Benefit to support them and reduce the issue of rent arrears whilst they transition to monthly payments on Universal Credit. Our work coaches gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview and can refer them to more specialist support for debt advice if required. There are a range of tools available to help claimants budget including a Personal Planner, Budgeting Support guidance and the Money Manager tool from the Money Advice Service. We do not routinely collect information on rent arrears as part of the claim process. However, there is research which shows more broadly that many people come onto Universal Credit with existing rent arrears. For example, in their report published on 11 July 2018, the National Federation of Arms-Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) of Social Housing providers found that of those Universal Credit households in rent arrears, 76 per cent had arrears prior to moving onto Universal Credit. We know that arrears are usually temporary and the majority of claimants do succeed in paying their rent, managing their monthly payments and clearing their arrears over time. We are currently carrying out further analysis of this issue with a number of housing providers, to investigate and understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants, what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having. It will be published when completed.

Universal Credit

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether funding for the Universal credit support scheme by Citizens Advice is planned to be allocated at a national, regional or local level.

Alok Sharma: Universal Support provides Universal Credit claimants with digital and budgeting skills. Earlier this month we announced a new Universal Support partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, which they will develop and run alongside the current provision offered by local authorities until 31 March 2019. From April 2019 Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland will take on sole responsibility for delivering a Universal Support service, a move which will ensure a consistent and streamlined service for claimants across the country. The funding for this will be allocated directly to Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland at a national level.

Personal Independence Payment

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has set targets for the performance of personal independence payment assessors.

Sarah Newton: The contracts awarded for the delivery of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) do not include targets in relation to the performance of individual assessors. The Department has a set of service level agreements setting out the expectations for overall service delivery, which is measured at Provider level rather than by assessor. These include the quality of assessment reports, number of days to provide advice to the Department and evidence of claimant satisfaction. Where assessors fall below the required standards and do not improve, processes are in place to revoke their approval to carry out assessments.

Personal Independence Payment: Glasgow North East

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payment in Glasgow North East have joined the Motability scheme since 2013.

Sarah Newton: This information is not readily available at constituency level and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability scheme. While the Department works closely with Motability, it is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the scheme.

Universal Credit: Domestic Violence

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether, the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of including provisions on automatic split payments in the draft Domestic Abuse Bill.

Justin Tomlinson: The Home Office and the Ministry of Justice led on the recent domestic abuse consultation and draft Domestic Abuse Bill. They will publish their response later this session. Split payments are already available on request in Universal Credit as part of our Alternative Payment Arrangements. Not all victims of domestic abuse will want a split payment and we work with claimants on an individual basis to provide support that fits their individual circumstances. We will provide all the support we can when an individual discloses they are suffering from domestic abuse, and direct them to third party professionals who can provide additional expert advice. We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government to support the development and implementation of their split payment policy, and will observe the implementation of split payments in Scotland to further understand the impacts of such a policy.

Children: Maintenance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish the results of the arrears segmentation trial run by the Child Maintenance Group between April 2013 and April 2014; and what assessment she has made of how the results of that trial have informed her Department's approach to collecting child maintenance arrears.

Justin Tomlinson: Since 2010, The Child Maintenance Service has not undertaken an arrears segmentation trial.

Universal Credit: Mental Illness

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of universal credit with a diagnosis of anxiety (a) did not receive an award after their initial assessment and (b) received an award after tribunal.

Sarah Newton: This information is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. There is some information on Universal Credit appeals and overturn rates in the Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics published by the Ministry of Justice, however this does not include segmentation by nature of diagnosis.

Personal Independence Payment: Epilepsy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 July 2018 to Question 162165 on Personal Independence Payment: Epilepsy, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that initial assessments are accurate.

Sarah Newton: We are committed to ensuring claimants receive high quality, accurate assessments and monitor assessment quality through independent audit. DWP Decision Makers can return reports to Assessment Providers for rework/additional advice if they feel that the information within a report does not fully justify the recommendation given. A range of measures, including provider improvement plans, address performance falling below expected standards, and DWP are closely monitoring and auditing assessments to ensure quality and consistency.

Department for Work and Pensions: Mental Illness

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training managers of her Department receive to support their employees with work-related anxiety; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of that training.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department is committed to developing managers who are confident in supporting mental health and have a good understanding of DWP tools and services available. The Department’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides a 24/7 manager support line. EAP workshops are available to all managers including ‘Managing stress and stress risk assessments’ and ‘Supporting mental wellbeing at work’. Service Level Agreements are in place to ensure workshops are effective. ‘Mental Health at Work’ learning also features in the Department’s recently launched Leadership and Management Fundamental Learning Journey (FLJ) which has been designed for all colleagues. The FLJ has been piloted to ensure its effectiveness. The Department has committed to training an additional 500 Mental Health First Aiders in 2019-20 (a total of 700) to provide acute, short-term and structured support to individuals as well as reassurance and signposting to sources of support as appropriate.

Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2018 to Question 176388 on Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations, how many of those audits resulted in amendments to health assessment reports (a) in total and (b) where a person's care needs for a descriptor were reduced for (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) personal independence payment in each year for which information is available.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) does not hold the information requested. We are committed to ensuring claimants receive high quality, accurate assessments and monitor assessment quality through independent audit. DWP Decision Makers can return reports to Assessment Providers for rework/additional advice if they feel that the information within a report does not fully justify the recommendation given. A range of measures, including provider improvement plans, address performance falling below expected standards.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2018 to Question 177186 on Social Security Benefits: Appeals, what evidence-based protocol on autism healthcare professionals employed by his Department are required to learn as part of their training.

Sarah Newton: Functional assessments are delivered on behalf of the Department by a range of suppliers. The Department requires Health Professionals to have broad training in disability analysis, as well as awareness training in specific conditions. These include autism. Health Professionals carrying out these functional assessments have access to training such as evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development. Health Professionals are not required to be an expert in a particular medical condition. They are expected to have a broad knowledge of different medical conditions and work with claimants to assess how these affect their daily life. DWP are committed to ensuring claimants receive high quality, objective and accurate assessments. We continue to work extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance and training in order to ensure the quality of the services are continuously improved.

Universal Credit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is on in-work conditionality for (a) universal credit claimants undergoing managed migration from legacy benefits and 9b) new universal credit claimants.

Alok Sharma: Universal Credit provides us with the opportunity, for the first time, to support people with low earnings to progress in work. We are developing our understanding of what works to support people to progress through a programme of research and analysis, tests and trials. Outside of the In-work Progression Randomised Controlled Trial, which has now finished, claimants who are in work with earnings above the Administrative Earnings Threshold are not currently expected to undertake any mandatory activity. This applies equally to new Universal Credit claimants and those moving onto Universal Credit from other benefits.

Universal Credit

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives of staff at (a) HMRC and (b) her Department on managed migration from live service to full service of Universal Credit; and when those meetings took place.

Alok Sharma: The process of moving claimants from Universal Credit Live Service to Universal Credit Full Service is a separate activity to that of managed migration and does not have a direct impact on HMRC. However, we have regular discussions with HMRC relating to all aspects of Universal Credit, including on plans for managed migration. HMRC is also represented on the programme board for Universal Credit, so their views are fully represented in discussions and design.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fly-tipping and Recycling: Students

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on (a) student fly-tipping and (b) the level of recycling provision in student accommodation.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: There have been no discussions with the Secretary of State for Education about student fly-tipping or on the level of recycling provision at student accommodation. We expect there to be adequate recycling provision at all student accommodation.

Veterinary Medicine: EU Nationals

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of EU vets leaving the UK as a result of the UK leaving the EU; and what assessment he has made of the effect of any potential reduction in the number of EU vets on the provision of veterinary care in the UK.

David Rutley: The Government is working with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), British Veterinary Association (BVA) and other partners to ensure there is sufficient veterinary capacity in the UK. Defra has not made an assessment of how many vets may choose to leave the UK. RCVS has commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to carry out three surveys to gather the views and intentions of UK practicing veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses whose nationality is non-UK European. The results from March 2017 are publicly available on the Institute for Employment Studies website. The second survey was launched in June this year and we look forward to seeing the results shortly. We continue to monitor the numbers of vets registered to work here. RCVS figures from March 2018 show an increase of 1,200 UK practising vets compared with the corresponding period in 2017.

Nobivac L4

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the European Medicines Agency's report on the Nobivac Leptospirosis 4 vaccine on breeding dogs with particular regard to the high mortality rate.

David Rutley: The European Medicine’s Agency publishes the Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Public Bulletin. This document provides an update on pharmacovigilance issues relating to products authorised at an EU level. The March 2018 edition reports that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) has requested the marketing authorisation holder for Nobivac L4 Suspension for Injection for Dogs to provide a report focusing on all adverse events involving death or euthanasia. This report is still being assessed. At the current time, the CVMP considers that the benefits of use of this vaccine in preventing serious infection continue to outweigh the risks.

Carbon Emissions

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason he did not attend the recent meeting of EU environment ministers in Luxembourg on cutting CO2 emissions; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce UK emissions following the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on 1.5 degrees.

David Rutley: Claire Perry, Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who attends cabinet and is responsible for climate change mitigation, attended the meeting. Working closely with BEIS, Defra is delivering greenhouse gas emission reductions within the agriculture, forestry and waste management sectors, as set out in the Clean Growth Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan. We are leading the world in our response to the IPCC report. The UK hosted the European launch of the IPCC’s report at the first ever Green Great Britain Week held between 15-19 October. Following the report we have commissioned the UK’s independent advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, for advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term emission reduction target, including on setting a net zero target.

Animals: Antibiotics

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2018 to Question 176052 on animals: antibiotics, whether the legislation the Government plans to bring forward will ban rather than restrict the administration of antibiotics to groups of animals for disease prevention in line with the EU veterinary medicines legislation.

George Eustice: The EU Veterinary Medicine legislation proposals included measures to tighten controls on the use of antibiotics, in particular restrictions on their use for disease prevention. Ministers have confirmed the Government’s intention to implement restrictions on the preventative use of antibiotics in line with new EU legislation.

Home Office

Counter-terrorism: Internet

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assistance his Department has (a) requested and (b) received from the European Counter-Terrorism Centre on removing online terrorist propaganda.

Mr Ben Wallace: The UK continues to lead international efforts to prevent terrorist use of the internet. In the UK, the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) refers content to online platforms that is assessed to contravene those platforms’ terms and conditions. Following referrals from CTIRU, online platforms have removed over 300,000 pieces of terrorist-related material since its inception in February 2010.This successful model was replicated within the EU as a response to the international nature of the online threat. The UK was instrumental in the formation of the European Union Internet Referral Unit (EU IRU), which went live in July 2015 following the Charlie Hebdo attacks. The EU IRU is one initiative of the European Counter-Terrorism Centre, part of Europol.The UK continues to work closely with the EU and other international partners to push industry to take a more proactive approach to detecting and removing terrorist content from their platforms. The UK and the EU IRU share information, evidence and best practice on an ongoing basis to prevent terrorist use of the internet.

Armed Conflict: British Nationals Abroad

Nick Thomas-Symonds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Directive 2017/541 on apprehending foreign fighters under Article 9 of that Directive.

Mr Ben Wallace: The UK did not opt in to Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism. UK effec-tiveness on combating terrorism and countering travelling for the purpose of terrorism, as referred to by Article 9 of Directive 2017/541 is not governed through this EU legislation. The UK already has strong domestic legislation in place and opting in would not have increased further public protection.

Immigrants: Personal Records

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department moved from paper to digital for immigration status records.

Caroline Nokes: INDECS (the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Department Electronic Computer system) held LC (landing cards) information for arriving passengers at UK ports of entry given check out conditions on arrival (codes 1-4) since 1980. On 14 April 1998, ports ceased to endorse passports or issue/collect embarkation cards on passengers' departure from the UK. These were then made available through the Case Information Database (CID).CID was delivered through a phased rollout that was initiated with Asylum cases and was then subsequently rolled out to cater for settlement, enforcement and nationality case working processes as well as assisting Borders. CID has been the source immigration case working system for UKVI since 1998, over this time however the department has digitised application routes through a web-based service called Access UK and are in the process of replacing CID functionality with a new product named ATLAS. Please note that paper files are used alongside these systems to aid case working processes

Immigrants: Personal Records

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what (a) method and (b) programme are records of immigration status backed-up.

Caroline Nokes: CID undergoes nightly back ups to tape and has replication between the primary and secondary data centres.

Immigrants: Personal Records

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times his Department has apologised for providing people with incorrect records of their immigration status.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not available in the format requested and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Community Security Trust: Expenditure

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish the total amount of funding per pupil allocated by his Department to the Community Security Trust for school security in each year since 2015.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Home Office does not allocate funding for school security on a per pupil basis. The funding allocation for each school is based on a security assessment of the guarding requirements to secure the pupils on that site.Spending on the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, which includes schools, colleges, nurseries, communal sites and synagogues for previous years is:2015-16: £10.9m2016-17: £13.4m*2017-18: £13.4m**includes a £3.0m contribution from the Department for Education in relation to security of Jewish state and free schools.

Community Security Trust: Finance

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding allocated by his Department to the Community Security Trust to protect Jewish educational settings in the UK.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, like other Home Office Grants, is awarded annually.Under the Grant educational sites are a priority and all registered schools, colleges and nurseries are offered funding for security. The Home Office works with the Security Community Trust throughout each year to consider how the Grant is being operated and what is being delivered across all areas.

Asylum: Housing

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers have had their temporary Home Office-provided accommodation withdrawn under the COMPASS contract and asylum claim subsequently upheld.

Caroline Nokes: Information on asylum seekers that have had their temporary Home Office-provided accommodation withdrawn under the COMPASS contract and asy-lum claim subsequently upheld is not held in a reportable format and the re-quested information could therefore only be provided at disproportionate cost by examination of individual property records.

Asylum: Housing

Mr Paul Sweeney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department made of (a) external advice and (b) lessons learned from the current contract implementation period prior to the re-tendering of the Compass asylum accommodation contract.

Caroline Nokes: Since the establishment of the project in the autumn of 2016, there has been extensive engagement with strategic stakeholders, including Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs), Local Authorities and Statutory Organisations, to feed their views into the design of the next generation of contracts. In addition, the project has undertaken market engagement with private and public sector suppliers to understand what is required to deliver effective solutions for the provision of accommodation and support to asylum seekers.The Home Office has considered lessons learnt from the existing contracts and Stakeholder feedback had considerable influence on the specifications in the contract, where the Home Office has adopted a host of improvements that were proposed by stakeholders. With these changes we aim to ensure that the new contracts build upon the groundwork for a constructive relationship between central government, local government, the private sector and civil society, to the benefit of communities and those seeking our protection.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to waive fees charged for people applying for renewal of leave to remain.

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to waive fees charged to people who are re-submitting biometrics as part of their leave to remain application.

Caroline Nokes: Fees can be waived for applications for leave to remain and renewal of leave to remain in certain specified human rights categories. These are listed in the fee waiver: Human Rights–Based and other specified applica-tions guidance which can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk.Where the application fee is waived the biometric enrolment fee is also waived. The Government has no plans to introduce a general waiver from paying the biometric enrolment fee for applicants who are resubmitting their biometrics.

Immigrants: English Language

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to abolish his Department's requirement for additional English language tests for applicants (a) seeking renewal of leave to remain and (b) who have already passed the first English language test.

Caroline Nokes: We expect those coming to the UK on a family visa with only basic English to become more fluent over time, to support their integration.A2 level English language requirement under the family Immigration Rules applies to applications for further temporary leave to remain as a partner or parent, after 30 months in the UK on a five-year route to settlement.Tests that exceed the required A1 level on entry to the partner or parent route, met at A2 level or above, may be re-used at the next application stage.

Alcoholic Drinks: Imports

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much delay occurs at UK ports when importing alcoholic drinks from the EU in order to deal with VAT, currency and excise differences.

Caroline Nokes: Legitimate consignments of goods (including alcohol) arriving from the EU are subject to the EU principle of free movement and as such as they can enter and exit the port without the need for a declaration and normally without Border Force intervention.Imported alcohol normally travels into the UK under EU wide duty suspension arrangements. The duty is paid by producers or warehouse keepers when products are released onto the UK market for consumption.Border Force has a remit to conduct customs revenue work and protect the revenue at the border. This involves making interventions and taking appropriate action when alcohol fraud and illicit consignments are detected.Border Force and HMRC work together to facilitate legitimate movements of alcohol across the border but will take action when fraud and evasion is detected.

Evidence: EU Action

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of effect on the (a) cost and (b) duration of international and domestic criminal investigations of the decision not to opt-in to the Proposal of the European Parliament and the Council on European Production Orders and European Preservation Orders for cross-border access to electronic evidence on criminal matters.

Caroline Nokes: The Government has decided not to opt in to the EU’s “e-evidence” Regulation as while we share the EU’s objectives in this area, it is not clear that the Regulation will be a practical or effective way to address what is a global issue. This opt in decision will have no impact on how UK law enforcement carry out international and domestic criminal investigations.We are also legislating domestically to tackle this issue, through the Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Bill. This legislation will allow law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to apply directly to service providers based in a territory with whom the UK has a relevant international agreement, by way of a UK court approved order for stored electronic data. This will make the process for gaining access to this type of data faster.

Fire and Rescue Services: Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,how many (a) wholetime, (b) retained and (c) control firefighters were employed in each of the last seven years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office published the latest statistics on firefighter numbers in England on 18 October 2018. The number of firefighters (full time equivalent) employed by FRSs in England on the 31st March each year are shown in the table below: 2012201320142015201620172018Wholetime firefighters28,16627,18526,18025,09823,88722,86722,580On-call firefighters11,51311,26910,98910,82810,4699,8949,760Fire Control1,3711,3191,2321,1201,0551,0431,061

Emergencies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) fire incidents, (b) rescue incidents (c) flood incidents and (d) any other emergency incidents have been recorded by his Department in each of the last three years.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office published the latest statistics on incidents attended by fire and rescue services in England in 2017/18 on 9 August 2018. The number of fires, rescue incidents, flood incidents and other emergency incidents attended by FRSs in each year are shown in the table below: 2015/162016/172017/18Fires162,247161,997167,150Rescue incidents115,61915,99416,369Flooding incidents13,71014,11115,611Other emergency incidents2337,852368,351365,697All incidents attended529,428 560,453 564,8271 Includes rescue or evacuation from water, lift release, other rescue / release of persons2 Includes all other non-fire incidents and fire false alarms

Visas: Tourism

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many tourist visas were refused in each of the last five years.

Caroline Nokes: The available information relates to total visitor visas, and is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Visas volume 1 table vi_01_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-june-2018/list-of-tables#visasThe standard visit visa has replaced:• Family Visitor visa• General Visitor visa• Child Visitor visa• Business Visitor visa, including visas for academics, doctors and dentists• Sports Visitor visa• Entertainer Visitor visa• Prospective Entrepreneur visa• Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa• Approved Destination Status (ADS) visahttps://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa

Refugees: Syria

John Lamont: What progress the Government has made on placing vulnerable Syrian families in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: We are on track to meet the Government’s commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme by 2020.Over 12,800 refugees who have fled the Syrian conflict have now been resettled since the scheme began, and they are being supported by more than 280 local authorities across the UK.

Migrant Workers

Matt Warman: What steps the Government is taking to ensure that its policies on immigration enable the hiring of the number of skilled migrants that the UK requires.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to ensuring our migration system works in the national interest by enabling employers to recruit skilled-migrants from overseas.In July, we exempted doctors and nurses from the annual cap, which freed up hundreds of places a month for other sectors of the economy.This has had a positive impact and the cap is no longer oversubscribed.

Fire and Rescue Services: Mental Health Services

Kelvin Hopkins: What steps he is taking to improve mental health support for firefighters.

Mr Nick Hurd: We recognise the vital role firefighters play and it is essential that fire and rescue authorities, as the employers, ensure that they receive the mental health support they require.Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services is assessing how well services understand and meet the wellbeing needs of their workforce and where improvements could be made.

Migrant Workers

Steve Double: What steps the Government is taking to ensure that its policies on immigration enable the hiring of the number of skilled migrants that the UK requires.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to ensuring our migration system works in the national interest by enabling employers to recruit skilled-migrants from overseas.In July, we exempted doctors and nurses from the annual cap, which freed up hundreds of places a month for other sectors of the economy.This has had a positive impact and the cap is no longer oversubscribed.

Immigration Controls

Mr Philip Hollobone: What plans his Department has to change passport control procedures at ports and airports in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Caroline Nokes: The Government remains of the view that a deal between the UK and the EU is in the best interests of both sides, and we are continuing to work to reach an agreement.At the same time, we are obviously taking a responsible approach and are preparing plans for all outcomes.

Migrant Workers

Bill Grant: What steps the Government is taking to ensure that its policies on immigration enable the hiring of the number of skilled migrants that the UK requires.

Sajid Javid: The Government is committed to ensuring our migration system works in the national interest by enabling employers to recruit skilled-migrants from overseas.In July, we exempted doctors and nurses from the annual cap, which freed up hundreds of places a month for other sectors of the economy.This has had a positive impact and the cap is no longer oversubscribed.

Antisocial Behaviour: Urban Areas

Maggie Throup: What steps he is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in town centres.

Victoria Atkins: The Government introduced the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which provides powers that the police and local authorities can use to tackle anti-social behaviour in town centres.The powers include Public Spaces Protection Orders for local councils to stop people committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces and a Dispersal Power the police can use to disperse anti-social individuals.

Wales Office

Holyhead Port

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment has been made of the efficiency and capacity of Holyhead Port as a customs port when the UK leaves the EU.

Alun Cairns: As the second busiest Roll On-Roll Off freight port in the UK, the Government recognises the importance of Holyhead to the economy of Wales and the UK. That is why a number of Government ministers, including myself and, earlier this month, the Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union, have visited Holyhead to discuss the impact of EU Exit on the port and its operators. The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, along with other UK Government Departments, continues to work with port operators across Wales, other key stakeholders, and the Welsh Government, to ensure that traffic continues to flow freely at ports and airports in Wales once the UK has left the EU.

Cabinet Office

Harvey Weinstein

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on the removal of the honorary CBE awarded to Harvey Weinstein.

Chloe Smith: The Forfeiture Committee is an independent body. Its deliberations are confidential and no comment is made in relation to progress on individual cases. Following the recent allegations the Forfeiture Committee received a number of pieces of correspondence requesting the removal of his honour. Mr Weinstein has since been charged with criminal offences in the US. We understand that the CPS are considering charges in this country. The committee will not be likely to take any action until the end of legal proceedings.

Cancer

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the top five cancer diagnoses were among (a) men and (b) women in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2017.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 84.72 KB)

Government Digital Service: Staff

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people work for the Government Digital Service.

Oliver Dowden: As of 25th October 2018, there were 751 people employed by the Government Digital Service.

Government Departments: ICT

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people are employed across all government departments to build or maintain IT systems.

Oliver Dowden: The Cabinet Office does not hold data relating to the number of cross government IT specialists employed specifically to build or maintain IT systems. This information may be held at a departmental level.

Government Digital Service: Consultants

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much money the Government Digital Service has spent with (a) Agilespehere, (b) Digi2al, (c) Kainos and (d) Solirious since 2015.

Oliver Dowden: The Government Digital Service (GDS) has spent £2,648,226.32 on services provided by Kainos since 2015. GDS spent £28,737.50 on services provided by Agilesphere since 2015. GDS has not spent anything on services provided by Digi2al and Solirious.

Cybercrime

Jo Platt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of cyber attacks affecting the UK which are state sponsored or coordinated.

Mr David Lidington: In the two years since National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) was established in October 2016, it has dealt with over 1,100 cyber security incidents. The majority were perpetrated from within nation states in some way hostile to the UK, undertaken by groups of computer hackers directed, sponsored or tolerated by the governments of those countries. For operational reasons, we are unable to provide further detail.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Department for Exiting the European Union: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by his Department in receipt of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

Suella Braverman: The Department for Exiting the European Union does not hold this information. As an employer it is not for the Department to hold information relating to benefits that are claimed or might be claimed by their employees.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Social Media

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much his Department has spent on promoted content on (a) Twitter, (b) Facebook and (c) Instagram in each month since June 2017.

George Hollingbery: Digital advertising is a cost-effective way for the government to share important information the public needs to be aware of. The Department for International Trade (DIT) buys media space through its appointed media buying agency, Carat. Carat data shows that the department has purchased media space to the value of £333,165 with these platforms since June 2017, which amounts to approximately 0.1% of overall annual communications spend across Government this year. Ad hoc spend may not be included in this amount. DIT uses these platforms and other social media channels to communicate with specific target audiences on government approved campaigns.

Department for International Trade: Universal Credit

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of staff employed by his Department in receipt of universal credit; and if he will make a statement.

George Hollingbery: The Department of International Trade (DIT) does not record or collate information on staff in receipt of Universal Credit.

Department for International Trade: World Trade Organisation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to increase the number of permanent staff and representatives at the World Trade Organisation in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

George Hollingbery: The Government has significantly increased resource at the UK Mission in Geneva dedicated to representing the UK at the World Trade Organization and other economic institutions, and is continuing to do so, in preparation for the UK’s independent trade policy upon leaving the European Union.

Qatar: UK Export Finance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government of Qatar has received a direct loan from the Direct Lending Facility; and what the value is of UK Export Finance support to that country.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government of Qatar has received a direct loan from the Direct Lending Facility relating to its purchase of Typhoon and Hawk aircraft and associated equipment and services.

Graham Stuart: Qatar has not received a loan from UK Export Finance’s Direct Lending Facility although an offer has been made to the Government of Qatar should they opt to utilise it. This has not been used to date. The total value of UK Export Finance’s commitments in support of exports to Qatar is just over £5bn made up from guarantees, direct lending and insurances. The financing support package for Typhoon and Hawk aircraft includes an offer of a direct loan from UK Export Finance’s Direct Lending Facility. This offer has been made to the Government of Qatar should they opt to utilise it.

Exports: Government Assistance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the eligibility criteria are for access to UK Export Finance's Direct Lending Facility.

Graham Stuart: UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) Direct Lending Facility is open to any exporter carrying on business in the UK who can satisfy UKEF that a single bank with a dedicated trade finance function cannot provide export finance for the transaction, or will only provide finance at an interest rate that would jeopardise the prospects of winning the export contract. This product can be particularly valuable in supporting small deals, and those in less developed markets, where bank capacity is typically more limited.UKEF publishes information about its Direct Lending Facility, including eligibility criteria, on its website.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/direct-lending-scheme (see ‘Main Features Document’).

Arms Trade: Qatar

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to his letter of 15 September 2018 to the Chair of the International Trade Committee, what risk assessment the Government carried out on the UK Export Finance support for the export of Typhoon and Hawk aircraft and associated goods and services to the Government of Qatar; and if he will publish that risk assessment.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to his letter of 15 September 2018 to the Chair of the International Trade Committee, for what reason the support offered to the Government of Qatar for the export of Typhoon and Hawk aircraft and associated goods and services falls outside of UK Export Finance's normal underwriting criteria.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) industrial, (b) economic and (c) foreign policy benefits that will be provided by the contracts for the export of Typhoon and Hawk aircraft and associated goods and services to the Government of Qatar.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what the breakdown of the £4.5 billion in financing support for the export of Typhoon and Hawk aircraft to the Government of Qatar is.

Graham Stuart: UK Export Finance (UKEF) has carried out due diligence and robust risk assessment on this transaction, concluding that the overall risk in relation to the transaction was low. This risk assessment is commercially sensitive.The basis of UKEF’s normal underwriting criteria is a framework agreed with HM Treasury that allows UKEF to provide support where it is needed for UK exporters while managing potential risks to the Exchequer arising from both individual transactions and across its portfolio. Due to the quantum of support (particularly to a single obligor), the long risk horizon and the nature of the transaction, its financing did not fit within UKEF’s normal underwriting criteria. In these circumstances, Ministers can instruct UKEF to support transactions which are judged to be in the national interest.The UK and Qatar share a close defence and security relationship. The defence contracts with the Government of Qatar were announced alongside a package of training and co-operation between the British and Qatari Air Forces. Both BAES and MBDA UK are significant employers in the UK and this contract will support BAES, its nearly 35,000 employees and the 9,000 companies in its supply chain, many of whom are in highly skilled design and manufacturing roles.The breakdown of the £4.5bn in financing support to the Government of Qatar is: £3.5bn in loan guarantees and an offer of £1bn in direct loans. In addition to the £4.5bn referred to by the Secretary of State for International Trade in his letter of 15 September to the Chair of the International Trade Committee, UKEF has provided further support for the contract in the form of export insurance bringing the total value to around £5bn in support.

Import Duties

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when will he plans to publish the UK's tariff schedule for trade after 29 March 2019 as part of no deal preparations.

George Hollingbery: I refer my Rt hon Friend for Wokingham to the answer I gave to my hon Friend for Woking on 25 October 2018, UIN: 181234.

Manufacturing Industries: Motor Vehicles

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he plans to introduce zero tariffs on components imported for just-in time automotive production as part of the UK's tariff schedule on leaving the EU.

George Hollingbery: The UK will be able to decide its own tariff policy following withdrawal from the EU. We are examining a range of options for our future tariff regime and we will consider carefully the evidence available to us before making a final decision in the interests of UK business and consumers.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many times he has met representatives of the civil society sector since his appointment as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in July 2018.

Tracey Crouch: We are committed to working closely with the civil society sector. Since his appointment in July 2018, the Secretary of State for DCMS has met with several civil society representatives. During a recent visit to Salisbury, he met with volunteers from Alabaré, a charity which supports homeless, vulnerable and marginalised people, and discussing how the government can help to remove barriers to volunteering. Other meetings include visiting the National Citizen Service programmes and meeting leaders from the Charity Commission. We look forward to engaging further with civil society organisations so that we can work together to deliver the Civil Society Strategy and achieve the government's vision of building a country that works for everyone.

Gift Aid

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the economic analysis published by Development Economics that over the course of a decade £30 million of taxpayers' Gift Aid donations could be taken in fees by private sector fundraising platforms; and if he will take steps to ensure that Gift Aid donations reach the causes, charities and beneficiaries they are intended for.

Tracey Crouch: Digital fundraising platforms raise significant funds for charitable causes and therefore must ensure high standards of transparency to allow donors to make informed decisions. The Fundraising Regulator has updated the Code of Fundraising Practice to include requirements for these platforms, including new transparency requirements about charges. This helps donors ensure that as much money as possible, including Gift Aid, goes to the intended charities and beneficiaries, which is important. In addition, one of the largest digital fundraising platforms, Just Giving, has recently announced they will no longer charge fees on donations made to campaigns for major incidents, which will also ensure more money, including Gift Aid, is passed to charities

Arts: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on future funding to support the arts in Coventry.

Michael Ellis: My Department announced, in December last year, that Coventry will be the UK City of Culture 2021. This will be a great year of arts and cultural events and will put the city firmly on the map as a cultural centre. Arts Council England (ACE) will contin 34ue to support the City through its funding programmes, and recently announced £5 million in Lottery funding to support Coventry 2021. In addition, Coventry and Warwickshire now have 12 ACE National Portfolio Organisations, of which six are new entrants. Over the four year funding period, 2018-2022, ACE expect to deliver approximately £73 million of funding to support these organisations.

Olympic Games 2012

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the assets at the Olympic Park have been sold; what revenue those sales have yielded; what further such sales of assets are planned; and whether a schedule for asset sales exists.

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has met with the (a) London Legacy Development Corporation and (b) Mayor of London to discuss the development of a written timetable and payment schedule for sales of assets at the Olympic Park.

Tracey Crouch: The figures for asset sales provided by the London Legacy Development Corporation in July 2018 for PQ 168018 are still current. The Corporation does not hold a schedule for asset sales, and the Department has not discussed the development of one with them.

Internet: Security

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2018 to Question 179331, for what reason no reference was made in that Answer to any targets the Government has adopted for the uptake of the voluntary code of practice.

Margot James: As stated in the National Cyber Security Strategy, the target is for the majority of commodity products and services available in the UK in 2021 to be more secure because they have their default security settings enabled by default or have security integrated into their design. We want to make the UK one of the safest places in the world to do business and be online. The Code of Practice is a step in that direction, by clarifying for manufacturers what good practice looks like. The sector is evolving and whilst the market continues to develop, DCMS will be working closely with manufacturers, including those that are looking to create new internet-connected consumer products to ensure that security is built into smart devices by design. Currently, we are seeking to achieve buy-in from manufacturers that cover a significant proportion of the UK. We also recognise the need for regulation that is based on the Code of Practice, and have already commenced work in this space. More information, including the scope of products likely to be covered, will be available in 2019.

Third Sector

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the distribution of civil society provision throughout the country.

Tracey Crouch: As set out in the Civil Society Strategy the government is committed to supporting a thriving civil society throughout the country. To inform our approach and understand the health and makeup of civil society across the country we draw from a range of sources for evidence, such as the NVCO’s UK civil society almanac and data from the Charity Commission.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of young people taking part in the National Citizen Service programme in each of the next five years.

Tracey Crouch: The department sets the NCS Trust’s participation targets each spring for the following financial year, based on the NCS Trust’s estimate of demand. We will consider future participation levels as part of our work on the forthcoming Spending Review.

Sports: Social Mobility

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has plans to incentivise sporting bodies to engage in social change programmes.

Tracey Crouch: The government's Sporting Future strategy is clear that sport and physical activity have a key role to play to promote inclusion, celebrate diversity and to tackle discrimination of all kinds. The strategy sets out that all future funding will focus on the delivery of five key outcomes - physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, individual development, social and community development and economic development. Government and Sport England is working with a number of wide ranging organisations to look at the impact that sport and physical activity can have on these five outcomes.

Northern Ireland Office

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timeframe is for a decision to be made on extending HPV vaccination to adolescent boys in Northern Ireland.

Mr Shailesh Vara: A decision regarding whether or not to extend the HPV to boys would normally be taken by a Health Minister in Northern Ireland, primarily because of the long-term financial commitments involved. I understand the Department of Health in Northern Ireland intends to keep this position under review. Following the JCVI statement published in July, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland is now undertaking preparatory work to allow for the introduction of HPV to boys in Northern Ireland, if such a decision is taken.

Fisheries: Lough Foyle

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will meet with the Irish Government to discuss (a) improvements to the management of and (b) tackling illegal activities on Lough Foyle.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Government recognises the need to take action to address illegal activity on Lough Foyle. We are committed to working constructively towards a practical resolution to the issue. Discussions between the UK Government and Irish Government are progressing, with a view to concluding a management agreement to address this activity. The management agreement will be without prejudice to the UK's position on any final delimitation in Lough Foyle.

Northern Ireland Office: Capita

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which contracts awarded by her Department are operated by Capita.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Northern Ireland Office has awarded one contract which is currently operated by Capita. This contract is to maintain financial data held on the Department’s legacy accounting system.